Waking up on a boat Tom Sharp

I wake up at night on a boat. A breeze rustles cattails. The moon shines on raindrops splashing on small waves. Boatmen and water birds share the same dream— a large fish flashes silver and disappears into the darkness. In the middle of the night, everything’s quiet. No one else is around to notice my shadow on the water. In the dark, the tide rises and laps on the shore. Moonlight flashes on the willows like falling spider webs. My life is a backdrop of restlessness and sadness against this moment of stillness. Temple bells echo. A rooster crows. Water birds scatter. Boatmen raise their sails and waves beat like drums on the prows of their boats.

舟中夜起 苏轼

微风萧萧吹菰蒲，开门看雨月满湖。 舟人水鸟两同梦，大鱼惊窜如奔狐。 夜深人物不相管， 我独形影相嬉娱。 暗潮生渚吊寒蚓，落月挂柳看悬蛛。 此生忽忽忧患里， 清境过眼能须臾。 鸡鸣钟动百鸟散，船头击鼓还相呼。