from Into Your Light, by Ulrich Schaffer

An old ship’s hull

Is dreaming

Of golden times

When it was still putting out to sea

When it could roll

In the breakwater

And take the waves

Over its bow

Without going down

 

But I

Will not dream

Of my strength and youth

Of missed chances

And things that were

And were not

 

I will calculate

The low and high tides

And put once more

Into a treacherous sea

Full of the knowledge

Of my unaging captain

  

From Into Your Light, Ulrich Schaffer

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Into-Your-Light-Ulrich-Schaffer/dp/0851106269