The Greatest Distance

The baby's world is simple and small
Floating free without friend or foe
Before the first glassy touch of space
His greatest distance runs from head to toe.

The sailor's world is wind and wave
And filled with dreams of liquid lore
Eloquence illuminated by salt and spray
His greatest distance extends from shore to shore.

The stargazer's world is long and linear
And concentrated on the things of night
Staring out to the far tips of infinity
His greatest distance is measured in twinkling light.

And I, suddenly in the grips of this falling world
Lying silent in my half-empty berth
Reaching for the hand that's no longer there
The greatest distance that I know is six feet of earth.