I Love Sailing
By Eileen Quinn 

i live on the twenty‑second floor
I am a city girl
at least I was till I fell for the guy
who's got to sail around the world
never really believed it
till I saw the sails unfurled
everything was just so great
right up till when I hurled

come on darling come with me
I'll take you sailing
on the deep blue sea
set our sails under a perfect sky
drift on down where the tropics lie
I love sailing
except for when I'm hanging
over the railing
I love the seven seas
except for when my head is tucked between my knees

unknown adventures, uncharted reefs
eating maritime delicacies
like canned corned beef
makes me think of my dog
I had to leave my dog, what grief
I left my home and my grown-up kids
okay, so that was a relief

come on darling
I love sailing
except for all those storms when I'm busy bailing
I love the seven seas
but could we keep them
out of the boat please?

every moment together
every moment total bliss
it's too damn hot for for a serious cuddle
better settle for a little kiss
oh Virginia Woolf, a room of my own
is something I really miss
funny how endearments sound when they come out with a hiss

come on darling
I love sailing
except for all those times
when my courage is failing
I love the seven seas
except when we set for Trinidad
and make Belize

now the joys of hand laundry are mine
I am a boatwife
we talk of nothing but boat repairs
oh God, get a life
he doesn't worry a lot
about a little marital strife
except for the nights
when the wind in the rigging says
Eileen, get the knife

come on darling…
when you promised me the moon
I understood
you couldn't actually hand it to me
so when I said I would follow you
to the ends of the earth
did you have to take  me so literally?

but then he brings me a sunset
with a green flash
and he gives me a bow wave
where the dolphins splash
and we go dancing on the beach
in our bare feet
life doesn't get much better than this
so I admit defeat

because I love sailing
and the alternative is quickly paling
I love the seven seas
but could we go home for a visit please?