As Christened Ships Set Sail – A Villanelle

Each maiden voyage has its’ stowaway
I backseat-rode the minivan with Jen
My mother came along on my first date

My father gave me cash enough to pay
For dinner lest my lovely date should spend
Each maiden voyage has its’ stowaway

Her father bought a boutonnière to trade
For mum my mother made with bow and pin
My mother came along on my first date

Both our teeth in braces as we face
The camera in her family’s humble den
Each maiden voyage has its’ stowaway

Dropped off at homecoming game and parade
But soon enough she picked us up again
My mother came along on my first date

She promised Jenny’s parents we’d be safe
She promised we would have her home by ten
Each maiden voyage has its’ stowaway

My mother came along on my first date

no such thing

it never rains

clouds come near
so belly up
open river-mouths
open steins

water becomes ALL:

communion
priest
lake
me
you
a drink

and there are no clouds
only tears the sun lifts
from our faces