Whale Watchers

in a rainstorm on a bluff

she becomes sixteen 

she can’t believe how this town’s grown

she complains about the rich folks

boats circle in the distance

it can only mean one thing

she sees a splash, her eyes light up and she’s gone

and i’m goin’ after her

chasing to the lighthouse like kids

whale watchers

she talks dorsal fin notches

and ponders over pods

the way she turns from a woman to a girl 

i never want it to stop

i say i wish they’d come in closer 

they’re hard to see this far away 

she gazes below to the waves and she’s gone

and i’m goin’ after her

tracin’ ‘cross lime kiln, she and i

whale watchers

if i ever get rich

i’m gonna build her a glass house by the water

and every time the whales go by 

she’ll light up and so will i

she’ll be gone

and i’m goin’ after her 

fingers crossed we see a breach

whale watchers

she and i and she and i 

a couple of whale watchers

in a rainstorm on a bluff

she becomes sixteen