Tender Mercies

I am 71 in my ship’s
Tender boat headed
For a small island in
The Caribbean in
Rough seas,
The boat is tossed
From side to side
And up and down.
The lady next to me
Is close to tears so
I put my arm around
Her shoulders to try
And steady her,
She looks at me and
Smiles resting her head
On my chest for comfort
Trying not to fall off her
Seat onto the pitching deck.
We reach the shelter of the
Harbor jetty and the tender
Boat becomes smoother,
She does not know me
Until I tell her I am the
Guest speaker she has
Heard and she blushes
At how close she held on
To me during our ride to
Shore in rough seas
On the tender boat.
I later see her in my
Audience on the front
Row but she never
Speaks to me again
Though she does
Not miss a lecture.
I do not know why
She is so shy but
I suspect she is
Married and
Enjoyed our
Boat ride too
Much to admit
To herself how
She succumbed
To tender mercies.