We left our huts in Senegal
Trecked north across the plains
Had to go in April
To avoid the heavy rains.
Got a lift eventually
In a clapped-out truck,
The road was rough and bumpy
Full of rocks and ruts.
Once we got to Tangier
We were told to meet "The Man"
He was said the only one
To have the perfect plan.
The plan was very simple
Straight forward and quite plain
It would cost a thousand bucks
To take each of us To Spain.
We all had to be there
At close to half-past four
With our wives and children
Upon that sandy shore.
The boat was old and open
Had seen much better days
The sun had blistered all the paint
In its scorching rays.
Europe was our golden goose
Its streets were paved with gold
But not if you had coloured skin
Were too young or very old.
Loaded to the gunwhales
We pushed off to the sea.
Half way across and down we went
There was nothing left to see.
Author notes
Option 3 Immigration. All too often these overloaded boats would head for Spain or the Canary Islands. Old rotten boats with unreliable engines.
A contest entry
- Options For All by Dark Whispers.
625 points, ended April 27, 2007, 11 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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Ah, what a great story. You need to write a book, my friend. You can call it "Wild and Wacky World Wandering Writings by William, AKA Indiana Jones' Father." (Or something like that.)
Have a great weekend!
Mark -
This was less of a poem and more of you describing what it was like, it lack emotion that every poem needs. thanks for entering
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To write of the true feelings that these terrible incidents really evoke would be too sorrowfully sad. I did not want to make it an epitaph. I am sorry if the seemingly light hearted approach offended you.
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I'm a rhymer myself and I will always maintain that they are the most engaging poems, and memorable. This really put me there. What I like about your writing is that you've actually been to Senegal and Tangier! (Is there a more exotic name for a place than Tangier?) It's a little like having Indiana Jones as a member here. lol Anyway, enjoyed this one. Thanks.
Mark -
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Mark Rickerby
You perhaps mean Indiana Jones` grandfather! Tangier unfortunately, even with its exotic sounding name is really rather seedy. Its hayday was perhaps as an International port some 100 years ago. Now there are too many European style villas with pools.
Out at night my wife had her handbag snatched. We two hubands were walking ahead, the two wives walking behind when it happened. I was all for persuing the robber down a flight of ill lit stone steps into the souk, but was restrained.
Reporting the incident to the local police the inspector asked "what was important in the bag?" These were, driving-licence, passport, credit-cards. The rest was unimportant, girls stuff, manicure, small change, lipstick. He then asked significantly, "where there any steps nearby?. Come back tomorrow at midday."
When we showed he produced driving-licence, passport, credit-cards. Nothing else. He had struck a deal. It remined me of the ending of that classic film Casablanca after Claud Rains the dapper French police inspector said to his henchmen, after witnessing Bogart shoot the Nazi officer, "Bring in the usual suspects"
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wow... poignant. I thought this was going to be autobiographical at first and imagined that April showers had prompted the memoir. I like the details here like the "clapped-out truck." You do well bringing to light the plight of the stricken underclass.
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ea
Whatever gave you the idea that I have ever lived in a hut in Senegal? That`s really going native. Well I suppose you can be excused as I seem to have been be in so many other unusual places at one time or another.
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Strong cantation of a seafarer in mishap in a journey ill fated. Very nicely penned in descript sailors voice. Nice work.
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