At Least

I want to get up early one more morning,
before sunrise. Before the birds, even.

I want to throw cold water on my face

and be at my work table
when the sky lightens and smoke
begins to rise from the chimneys

of the other houses.
I want to see the waves break

on this rocky beach, not just hear them
break as I did all night in my sleep.
I want to see again the ships

that pass through the Strait from every
seafaring country in the world—
old, dirty freighters just barely moving along,

and the swift new cargo vessels
painted every color under the sun

that cut the water as they pass.
I want to keep an eye out for them.

And for the little boat that plies

the water between the ships

and the pilot station near the lighthouse.

I want to see them take a man off the ship

and put another up on board.

I want to spend the day watching this happen

and reach my own conclusions.

I hate to seem greedy—I have so much

to be thankful for already.

But I want to get up early one more morning, at least.
And go to my place with some coffee and wait.

Just wait, to see what's going to happen.
~ Raymond Carver

(Place: Home)