My Lifeline

I thought he was the moon,
so I reached out
and fell overboard
and cursed the sky.
A lifeline brought me in.
I thought he was the gull
atop the mast,
so I climbed up, then fell
and cursed the boat.
The lifeline saved me.
I thought he was the starfish,
so I dove in too deep
and cursed the sea.
The lifeline brought me up.
I thought he was the shoreline,
so I swam out too far
and cursed the distance.
The lifeline came out after me.
I couldn’t see he was my lifeline,
and I could have been with him
if I had only stayed on board.