By Advika Maheshwary
I am lost, adrift, and helpless
somewhere in the Atlantic sea.
I am not in the comfort of my home
I am not with my family.
Off-course in the Atlantic sea
So lonely, I feel isolated
My family was wrenched away from me
Gone is the scent of vanilla; they now call me a ‘refugee.’
I feel isolated on this boat
On a small, red boat, that is spilling over
A shiver runs down my spine, I hug my knees, pretending this is a dream
Hope is adrift on the roaring sea
On a small, red, unstable boat, the crowd suffocates me
I am on the edge of the vessel
I attempt to stay on the the roaring sea
This restless giant is endless with an energy that could eviscerate us
I look down into the abyss, I stand over edge of the boat
I don’t have a lifejacket, I don’t have my mace
The restless giant is endless with energy that could kill us all
Will I ever get to see my sister again?
There are no more lifejackets left
I see no rations, my insides burn
I don’t think I'll get to see my sister again
I wish upon the only star in the sky
I see no rations, my stomach grumbles.
Starvation is creeping up on me
I wish upon the only star in the sky
That I will survive this and go back home
Starvation slowly creeps up on me, I hold my stomach tight
I see a woman with a piece of brown bread
It is the answer to my survival
If I could just grab the only food on this boat
I see a woman with a piece of brown bread
I push through the army of waves
I can/will grasp onto the only ration on this boat
The boat rocks from left to right. I am no baby, this is no lullaby.
I push through the army of waves
My legs crumble, my hands refuse to grip anything
I steady myself on the rocking boat. I am no baby and this is no lullaby.
I grab onto the piece of bread and manage to snatch a portion.
I fall down, not getting a grip on anything
Lightning flashes through the dark clouds
The bread falls into the abyss, to where the sharks lie in wait.
The only star in the sky disappears, my only hope is gone
Lightning flashes through the dark clouds
My throat is dry, I need water, I need food, I need help
My only wish will never come true
Now what’s there to lose?
My throat is dry, I need water, I need food, I need help
The ocean wants to take its rage out on us
Foamy, white froth surrounding us
The boat trembles with me as I hug my knees and pray for this to end
The ocean wants to take it’s rage out on us
Chaos and screaming in all four corners
Froth all around us, my chest is getting tighter
I am stuck in a suffocating boat, I can’t breath
Ear-blasting noises and shouts, I can’t hear my own thoughts
This has just become a snake pit, no place for anyone to stand alone
A place of horror, misery, and death
My vision is blurry and I can’t feel my body
A snake pit, like an inferno, nothing can bring this down
I am tired, crushed, and completely helpless
My vision is blurry and I can’t feel my body
I can feel myself giving up
I am helpless, adrift
My fight for survival is almost over
I kneel down, my head is low.
I realise now, I am an exile fleeing for safety
My fight for survival is over
Nothing could efface this traumatic experience
I now realise that I am nothing but an exile fleeing for safety
I am lost, adrift, and helpless