destinations

a black and white photograph:

my parents walking on the pier
at the Royal Vancouver
a background of yachts, a clouded sky
masts brush-stroked to the horizon

my father striding ahead, hands in pockets
to destinations beyond the thin
yellowing border

a hand reaching up to her scarf, my mother
with a smile so young, her body
angled tentative toward him, like a sail
waffling into wind

if I had photos of my childhood
they would resemble this earlier one

my father propelled off-frame
to the curve of the horizon

my mother still a few steps behind
the smile gone from her face