Hope, Drowning

Amal was born by the shoreline at night
Not far from them raging a thundering fight
There pushing from the mountains, insurgents and change
A balance of power by force rearranged

Yet once the seditious carried out their coup
And once all the greedy collected their due
The looting and famine, they never surceased
And Amal's growing eyes still never saw peace

Astern the past, ahead dark clouds rise
Portside tyrants, starboard the same disguised

Governed anew, the violence the same
Redeemers maim
The cities aflame

Her mother now tells her of a place beyond the waves
A land of milk and honey, of wealth that saves
All those seeking refuge, from war, hunger and plague
Where hardened men for cash by boat would take

Astern the past, ahead dark clouds rise
Portside despair, starboard the ideal dies

Weeks later she received a number
Men came, took some cash from her
Told her to meet them by the brack
And nil but most essential to pack

Left all which to her belonged
Meet them down by the pier
Sold it so they could afford
To from here disappear

Dozens are climbing aboard
Ere the captain starts to steer
Sail off to the place beyond
These ailing waves of fear

Forty hours since they left, still no shore in sight
Of hydration bereft, Amal clutches tight
Mother's chest, so warm
As above them now forms a storm

Astern the past, ahead dark clouds rise
Portside waters crash, starboard loud cries
Above Allah watches with a frown
Below the cold, in which their hope shall drown

All of the promise they yearned to believe
All of this hope, these dreams of reprieve
All of these people, their fates frugally
Like cats in a bag are thrown to the sea

To the sea!