I'm so glad you weren't talking about empty vessels. . . though the good thing about empty vessels is that they can be filled up. Also, the good thing about vessels in general (I think) is that they are either - already filled up or empty or a little bit of both.
I'm not sure I understand the poem in general, neither that I have grasped its meaning. However, when I read it, I had this sensation as if I'm in someone else's mind. As if this someone is telling this to herself( Can't help but link the poem to a woman for obvious reasons). Anyhow,
You know, I often wonder if the chairs, the floor, and object in general, can feel. I often think of them as empty vessels - vessels that cannot feel like I do because, at least as per my current knowledge, they do not have a nervous system. As per that conclusion, I think of myself as a vessel that is neither filled nor empty, but that at times, is on the brink of becoming empty, or vice versa, filled.
Why am I saying this? I don't know, I feel like letting you know what's going on in my mind as a result of reading your poem. Though, I mainly had two impressions when reading. One, the narrator is calling herself a vessel like a metaphor.... Two, the narrator is talking to a ship and comparing herself to it. Then, towards the middle to end, I get the impression the narrator is comparing herself to a computer and digital data plus showing her insecurities and her vulnerabilities... and arriving to the conclusion that she feels unlike the object. Nice to see you posting again.
As always your train of thoughts quite reflect my mood when I wrote this poem. Even though you might feel like you're rambling, you actually have a very intuitive way of comprehending my work.
It's a bit odd as this poem is indeed written towards myself, a monologue in my mind between two selves (would that be a dialogue?). Vessel, empty or full, of half full or half empty, who knows. It changes I guess depending on our thirst and our laziness.
Interesting perspective on feeling. Logically objects don't feel since they don't have a nervous system. Yet I kind of see it from the perspective of physics. When you stand on a floor you will exert force on the floor, in return the floor will exert a counter force in reaction. I guess in that way, objects do feel?
But all of this might as well be a fictional after-tagging of meaning since I don't think I think when I write. I mean I do think in terms of sound and words but not necessarily what the words mean in total because they just seem to fall together like that.