the shepherd and the sailor

somewhere
always
even now
a shepherd’s westward gaze
catches a sailor’s eastward gaze
in the flames of the faithful sun
as it sets upon hills of gently rolling earth
as it breaks across waves of gently rolling water

tenderly
the shepherd hands over
the weathered reins of day

tenderly
the sailor receives them

each knows the other
as a presence within the breeze

each knows the other
as a wordless prayer within his bones

somewhere
always
even now
the world is held safe
in such
well-worn and elemental
hands