the tandem boat

we tried.
her in the back plastic
seat inside,
me in the front of
the lime green kayak,
afloat in the rough tributary
of the patuxent river.
the cross winds,
the swells and waves
from power boats
pushed us sideways
towards shore again
and again, coming close
to rocks and piers.
I pulled in one direction,
she with a different
stroke, a different
weight and set of muscles
took us the other way.
sometimes we'd circle
heading back to from
where we came.
we were not a team.
she was angry, but silent,
as people are when
early in a relationship,
not wanting to ruin things.
I was perplexed and tired,
wanting her to rest
her oars and let
me steer. let me take us
where we needed to go.