Long deep whitecapped rollers answer the contrary wind
where the deep dark channel narrows between islands
that funnel the cold raw power of the waves
upstream against the current of the mighty river.

The marina worker on the phone told me
“You don’t want to be down here: there’s whitecaps
on our inner channel out front the marina.”
I heard the shiver in her voice, urgency.

I am content to sit within these warm walls
secure against whatever comes
wind, rain, snow or something else
today is today: tomorrow is tomorrow.