A poem I wrote while in Greece about the trip people make from Turkey via Farmakonisi – a military island – to Leros.
Black sea, black ocean
mind racing, wheels in motion
a screeching voice of the blowing wind
it’s loud and scary
beginning till the end
darkness surrounds me
am I blind, I cannot see
feel the drops of rain
so cold together
sharing the pain
the uncertainty, the fear
what is coming
mind numbing
it will all disappear
the cold is now wet
the screams coming from man
are we there yet
no answer on demand
survive, swim
looking at others
the outlook is bleak
alive, but grim
stumble upon rocks
found a treasure
what happens next
beyond our measure
flashlights, barks
code words cannot be cracked
a shot, light sparks
we all move back
women, children
saw them before
where are they now
see them no more?
rest on spikes
but feel numb
so cold, waiting
twisting my thumbs
salt water for days, drinking
time passing by pray, thinking
another boat crosses, sinking
chances of survival, shrinking
a sudden order after waiting
get on the big ship
where are we going, it’s dark
another scary long trip
Finally reach land
greeted by man
a new beginning
where does it end?