Eel River Departure

                                Logansport, Indiana

                                For Elisabeth Van Wagenen Bailey, 1919-1995 

So you have taken your slender boat

Down the river, not to come back

Except in our memory, or in gestures

Of your children, or a phrase

Or a tone of voice we know,

Or a laugh, or a sometime wince,

Or a tell-tale sign of fortitude.

The Eel River flows into the Wabash

The Wabash into the Ohio

The Ohio into the Mississippi

The Mississippi into the Gulf

Of Mexico where waters flow

East, West, South, and out

All over the world in their time.

I dream that your oar and the waters’ time

Are taking you Sough and then East around

The Florida Keys and up along

The North Atlantic Ocean’s coast

Past Miami, Savannah, Cape Hatteras,

Atlantic City, along Long Island,

Then East a while and then Northeast

Away from Buzzard’s Bay and into

Vineyard Sound and Vineyard Haven

Where all becomes familiar.

You might not want to leave that place.

                                                Lois Langland

                                                August 8-9, 1995