The Wreck of The Betty

It was a dark and stormy night
late October on the island
we were snuggled in safe and sound
and rode out the weather
mostly in our dreams.

But further up island
someone’s hatches slipped their battens
and just that quick
a boat was no longer afloat.

Word spreads quickly on the Vineyard.
By the time the first cup of Art Cliff coffee was poured
everyone was talking about the shipwreck.
Since I had made Lobsterville a daily destination that season
I was early on the scene.

Now it wasn’t really that big of a blow
and it didn’t look like much of a wreck
a string of wooden shards along the tideline
and for sure a decent list
but most of the damage was below the water’s surface.
So she looked ok
just sorta worse for drink…or the drink.

I was glad because I abhor a voyeur
and because someone’s livelihood is on the line
with every hard working inch of those vessels…
but the reason I painted it was because of that good old Yankee spirit.

When life throws your boat on shore…
it just means you have firmer ground
from which to cast.