The boatbuilders

The song was a boat
It lay on the wharf
its spine on chocks
They discussed the way forward
There were disagreements
and points of view
There were meetings about the kind of nails
about the way to lay the ribs
The heart of the boat
did not start beating.
The arguments continued
in the hope that the words themselves
might make the heart beat
But there was nothing but the words
Now they stand
considering the position of the rowlocks
debating the weight of the rudder
Boatbuilders
afraid of the sea.