The mast

On the horizon
of this barren island
the child has sited a mast
between heaven and earth.
So every morning before
the others are awake
she bicycles out to
what she sees, meets
an old woman on the road
who can no longer see
what the child does not see,
and lifts her green watering can
to wet the ground around
the cutting that she has struck
so that it will take root
and sail out to sea.