28 May Back 40: Drifting

Mid lake, I rest the oars across the hull to watch a father in his yard pushing the son on a swing — each dependent on the others’ motion, a metronome of affection.

I allow myself to drift in front of another yard — each a stage-set from this vantage; in this one, barking dogs bounce in place for a ball held in the owner’s hand, then paddle out to retrieve.

Everything here arrives a little later than when it happens or we would expect — the distance, the way sound travels on a surface, yet, a plot and drama result; a story gets told.

Now that it’s past noon, I’ll row back to the rented house, proud that blisters have opened — and run clear — between my thumbs and index fingers,

having propelled myself over water alternately stilled by dense vines or black with only-guessed-at depth, passing scene upon scene, a star myself of one of them, should someone look out.

David Masello writes about art, architecture, and culture for many publications, including Milieu, of which he is the longtime executive editor. He has written three books about art and architecture and many of his one-act plays and monologues — which he often performs — have been produced by theater companies in New York City and Los Angeles. He is on the board of New York City’s National Arts Club.