Brightly Colored Boats on the Banks of the Charles by Billy Collins

Brightly Colored Boats on the Banks of the Charles
by Billy Collins

What is there to say about them
that has not been said in the title?
I saw them near dawn from a glassy room on the other side of that river,
which flowed from some hidden spring
to the sea; but that is getting away from
the brightly colored boats upturned
on the banks of the Charles,
the sleek racing sculls of a college crew team.

They were beautiful in the clear early light—
red, yellow, blue and green—
is all I wanted to say about them,
although for the rest of the day
I pictured a lighter version of myself
calling time through a little megaphone,
first to the months of the year,
then to the twelve apostles, all grimacing
as they leaned and pulled on the long wooden oars.

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