I’m thinking of you
bringing your boat up the Hudson tomorrow.
You’ll ease into the pre-dawn tide at Tarrytown
and sail strictly by the channel markers
through the wide waters of Haverstraw Bay.
It’ll be a brilliant morning after that and easy for you
to make good speed before the tide turns south.
I hope you’ll ride on a lovely breeze at
Garrison, West Point and Cold Spring Harbor.
You’ll stay to the center by Poughkeepsie
then sail the edges with great care next to
all the shoals that could put you aground.
I hope the wind will give you a lift
past the ancient Hudson trading posts,
Kingston, Saugerties, Germantown, and
get you to Catskill while it’s still light,
and I hope when you finally reach your slip
you and the river will belong to each other.