What You Work For
       

Heft and hank of rope, halyard
clank of ringing chain

dragged link by gunnel-clunking link
and hand-over-hand hauled in

until at end, sudden greased release
of anchor weight

and you fall back, stunned by what
your dragging work has yoked

you to. Has brought
aboard to share your boat.

Copyright © 2010 Rebecca Foust All rights reserved
from All That Gorgeous, Pitiless Song
Many Mountains Moving Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission