the next life

we wait
to go out to sea.
leaving the dock
we wave to the strangers
below, as they see
us off.
the ship sounds its horn.
we are wearing white.
we have hats on to keep
the sun off our faces.
we stand at the rail and watch
as the land
recedes, the gulls follow
as far as they can go,
then turn back.
there is nothing left
to see.
everything that was there,
is gone, soon,
there is only water.
we have arrived.