In the Marina at Hilton Head Island
Are boats named in the office (Ocean Beauty, Vagabond, Tyche), lying by the hearth (Boss Lady), or in someone else's bath (Stitchwitch, The Nauti-Lady, The Big Cutie)?
It seems men name them, hardly thinking (Press On Regardless!), jokes hovering above the cheque (On Business, Ramblin' Wreck of Georgia Tech), And own them guiltily (African Princess).
Women seem absent, laughing (Miss Me II, See Tabby IV, so Happy Pelican Admits, like others, he's no sailorman Just a shy little camper in the blue.
Have women too much sense to join this team? (All I can find is Idyll Ours to show Anyone hoped for company.) They know The dream of boats: wet, lonely, masculine dream.
The working boats are different: at the pier A fisherman sold us for twelve dollars all The shrimps he'd caught that evening in his trawl; His wife was there; the boat was called Maria.
Alistair Elliot
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