The Rock

WHEN I WAS A LAD
TRAVELING STEERAGE
ON A TRAMP STEAMER
THE BEST WE COULD AFFORD

WE WERE WAY BELOW THE SALT

MY SISTERS AND I
TRAVELING
TO MY MOTHER’S LAND OF BIRTH

HER MARRIAGE GOING SOUR

TRAVELING TO HER PARENT’S HOME

NO HAPPINESS IN OUR DEPARTURE
NO JOY IN OUR DESTINATION
ONLY DUTY I THOUGHT
AND FIVE MOUTHS TO FEED

WE WERE ALLOWED
ONLY ON THE LOWER DECKS

I WAS BUNDLED UP
AND PLAYING THERE

ALONE IN THE MIDST OF WINTER
SEASICKNESS CLAIMING THE OTHERS

WE PASSED A JUT OF ROCK
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

A LONELY ROCK
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

THE WAVES BEAT ON IT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA


NO ONE TO PUT IT TO BED
SMELLING OF CIGAR SMOKE
AND COLOGNE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

BUT THE I BECAME AWARE
OF GREENERY
AND SEABIRDS FLYING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

NO ONE IS TRULY ALONE
I THOUGHT

AS WE SAILED ON
TO GRANDPARENTS
WHO LOVED THEIR DAUGHTER
AND HER CHILDREN

WE SAILED ON
LEAVING THE ROCK
WHERE LIFE FOUND LIFE
ALONE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

FRANK A VOLLMER