The Manitou Island ferry
departs for the mainland
as we stand,
backpacks hoisted on shoulders,
watching from the shore.
The deserted island,
now a national park,
had been a stop for ships
traveling from Canada.
With its deep water harbor,
Manitou offered respite
and wood for ship’s boilers.
But, coal and progress
slowly starved the island of commerce.
Only the ghostly remains of buildings
bathed in evening light
hug the shore,
and a quiet cemetery in the woods
marks the lives
of residents from
a century ago.
Off shore
The wreck of The Three Brothers
lies in the shallows.
Brave souls can dive below
Lake Michigan’s still waters
to gaze at what remains.
A chorus of spring peepers
signal evening’s approach.
The ghosts of Manitou
keep us company
as we make camp for the night
amid glorious evening light.
*poem inspired by Lynn Adams’ Evening Light & Linda Rief
A Reading Life 
Exquisite verse. Bet it’s gorgeous there.
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This sounds like a wonderful trip! I love the history that you wove into the poem.
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Love how you write in poems. So much said in so little space! I use too many words to get to where I am going. I love this sparse writing. You are so good at placing us in your environment. Can you tell me more about Lynn Adams and Evening Light?
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So many images here, the current ferry, the ghost ships. The camp, the light. Even the image of divers going into the deep, cold water to find out more.
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Your poetic form weaves in history and intrigue. I see a novel in verse in the making. Thank you for sharing your distinct voice with us!
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A stunning and beautiful poem. I feel like it belongs in The Firekeeper’s Daughter.
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Beautiful! A place i
d love to visit sometime and you make it all the more enticing. Soulful and eerie, this is a hauntingly beautiful poem.
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One vivid moment with the wealth of a universe beneath the surface. Beauteous!
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