Everyday wide apertures:
newsprint, television, radio.
Second or third-hand glimpse of another’s plight.
Photographers know
wide apertures provide shallow depth.
Until that day, that’s what I had.
That day, strolling the cruise ship’s deck,
my privileged promenade
was suddenly interrupted.
What I’d read about, heard on the news,
appeared off port side.
A small boat bobbing, barely moving.
Two oars slapped white caps.
In and out and in and out. Out of sync.
Six? Eight people? Dark shapes,
even in bright sun, crowded together.
Struggling, no doubt praying, not to capsize.
Our Captain’s voice suddenly blared.
“There is a small boat in distress.
Our assistance has been refused.
We will remain here until the Coast Guard arrives.
This will not impede our schedule.
You will arrive in Miami on time tomorrow.”
Narrow apertures give a deeper depth of field.
My eyes saw, stared, teared.
Refugees risking everything
for what they deemed would be a better life.
My heart ached at the scene
as did many looking on.
That night we did, as all aboard our ship did.
Enjoyed dinner served on linen tablecloths,
toasted our last night at sea.
Danced late into the night.
Slept on a king-sized bed
and flew home the next morning.
But I’ll never forget what I saw.
Written for Tuesday Poetics at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. Today, Dora asks us to “write a poem that conjures a veiw (whether from our travels or everyday life, whether from desire or expeirence) that is colored by the emotion of the moment.” Photo was taken from on one of our cruises that sailed roundtrip from Miami, Florida. It was a good number of years ago but I’ve never forgotten this heartbreaking experience.
lillian the home poet 
An emotional contrast of different lives.
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You show us how those narrow apertures confront us with “their deeper depth of field,” release us, expand our vision to include those acts of desperation that comprise so many lives around us. I love how your poem becomes that very aperture for the reader. The contrast between two “boats” — so impactful.
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Do you know their outcome? What a heartrending experience. If it were to happen today they’d be shipped home again.. or sent off to some arbitrary country.
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There is such a difference between looking at images and reading about an event and experiencing it yourself, Lill, and you’ve captured that in this poem, as well as the contrast between a big cruise ship, the ‘privileged promenade’ and the ‘small boat bobbing’, and made time stand still in the lines:
‘Two oars slapped white caps.
In and out and in and out. Out of sync.’
I agree, ‘wide apertures provide shallow depth’.
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What a heartwrenching experience! The contrast between the two leaves an emotional impact.
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A very memorable scene and a compelling poem.
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Fascinating and very well-described, including about the linen. What can one say…the good thing is that you wrote the poem, and posted it. Maybe in someway, one day, it is part of helping this world of ours get it right
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Lill, A vivid memory for sure! Joyce
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The contrast of 2 worlds always bother me. We can go on as per normal in our lives but some folks are in desperate need for a better life. Thanks for sharing Lillian.
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Never has the border between those who have and those who have not been sharper. I don’t expect that they would acheive their dreams.
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Such a heart-wrenching experience, Lil! Especially moved by the contrast between a big cruise ship, the “privileged promenade” and “small boat bobbing.” 🤍🤍
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This certainly stopped me in my tracks! A confronting and sobering experience indeed. And no doubt a very timely write; applause!
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Lillian, the contrast between the refugees’ plight and the luxury of the ship is startling. Thank you!
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