By Subash Singh Parajuli
Seeking rights of life and freedom from terrorists’ doom
I sailed with closest friends and heir of mine
Searching for home away from home beyond wrecked walls
And fled along the route of the Mediterranean Sea;
Caressing bruises with leftover crumbs
Splitting between two families and lands
I crashed and clashed with pirates at night in the ferry
Where I lost a few intimates and had no hope of being escorted.
I gripped my body and mind with those of my son, aged seven,
To reach at the gate of heaven
The course of journey is duped in the middle of the sea
Where nobody knows where and how to plead
For passing silent salty water with thirst and hunger
As I almost gave up hope to survive no longer
I sought little food in the boat to be on the strange land
Though I got my hand cut off
To be saved from storm of sea-swells.
In our wandering, I saw an island at a short distance at night
And started swimming with my dear son in neon light
Packing a few tattered clothes and shoes
Aiming to have prosperity and freedom in life
I, a naked man sailed down to approach destiny
As the weather in the sea engulfed incessantly
And I became eyes of millions at next day’s dawn
Many prayers were chanted; a few even called for mourning
The news went viral, and channels got a sensation tariff.
As I sailed along the unknown passage
Through a lonely voyage on the hostile sea
And ended up in the trails of hungry sharks
They easily digested my ribs
And still relished for more bodies from their tug of war to be powerful one.
Every month and year, they have always been on the run like me
To see and meet a colorful smile and ephemeral glory in others’ land
That is available to your fate only after drifting beside a salty and sandy land.
[Subash Singh Parajuli is a poet and educator. He has published three anthologies of poems in English: Mystic Myth, Soil on Pyre and Sympathy of Life. He lives in Kathmandu.]