Waterfront Music

Down on the waterfront

I follow the paved path

My eyes finding

Silhouettes of moored boats

Masts reaching to the stars

I listen to the water

Licking the rocks below

Otters race with fish under whiskers

Barking to little ones

Who follow

My steps take me

Down the pearl necklace

Of haloed lamps

Refreshing me with color

Then releasing me to darkness again

Mist gently rolling over the bay

Brings his music

Over the distance

I feel as though I am being led

By the pied piper

Instead of him leading me

Into darkness

I close the distance and

He beckons light

Promising with the notes of his guitar

Such sadness in the words

Floating upon his husky voice

My heart goes out to him

I know that there is a secret story

Beneath his skin

Like all of us trying to make

Our way on this journey

There have been trips and falls

It is within what he doesn’t say

I toss him all my coins and am on my way

I pass the store fronts

Continuing past those indulging

In coffee or ice cream

They walk side by side and hand in hand

I sigh…the music man’s song still echoing in my heart…