Lone Javanese vessel
twisted and battered
unwelcomed cargo spilling over its sides
Icy water gleaming
Lights brightly ranting
She hears obscure foreign voices
Unauthorised maritime arrivals
Hopes cling bleakly
Gasping for air
Cypress smiling through the sea
cardamom, saffron, fig tree
sheltering from the heat
a child borne a future seen
delirious euphoric dream
gasping for air
small among remains of her new life
discarded cloak floats away
Never known by name
—
Mary Chydiriotis is a social worker and aspiring writer living in Melbourne. Her poems have been published in journals and anthologies both locally and overseas, including Social Alternatives, Garfield Lake Review, Offset, Short and Twisted and Tincture. Mary has worked with migrants and refugees in the community sector for fifteen years.
Feature image: Tom Page/Flickr
