“We live in the age of the refugee,
the age of the exile.” - Ariel Dorfman
This week, Poets United has as its theme “Tranquillity”. In a world becoming increasingly more violent, more agitated, more unstable, to find tranquillity may be well nigh impossible for the majority of people around the globe. Over the last few months, the shocking news of an escalating refugee crisis in Europe illustrates the point only too graphically.
Vast numbers of refugees have made their way across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe in 2015, sparking a crisis as countries struggle to cope with the influx, and creating division in the European Union over how best to deal with resettling people. More than 750,000 migrants are estimated to have arrived by sea so far this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), but exact numbers are unclear as some may have passed through borders undetected.
Although not all of those arriving claim asylum, over half a million have done so. Germany continues to be the most popular destination for migrants arriving in Europe. It has received the highest number of new asylum applications, with almost 222,000 by the end of August. Hungary has moved into second place, as more migrants have tried to make the journey overland through Greece and the Western Balkans. It had 96,350 applications by the end of July.
The Aegean Sea crossing has seen the deaths of more than 3,000 people this year, but the route is still one of the most popular for refugees trying to cross into the European Union, as the eastern Greek island of Lesbos is only a few hours away from Turkey, where many Syrian refugees are coming from. The majority of people who take boats across the Aegean are using smugglers, whom they have often paid up to 2,000 euros each.
Tranquillity
When the bombs fell and our homes destroyed
In ghastly, fiery infernos,
We screamed, we cried, we ran away
And sought tranquillity.
When soldiers shot at us, and partisans shot back,
In deadly, deafening crossfire,
We crept low, and hoped to flee
And sought tranquillity.
When climbing into trucks, thrown in together,
In fusty, airless, stinking compartments,
We held our breaths and swallowed our tears,
And sought tranquillity.
When thankfully we boarded illegal, leaky boats
In tossing seas and wind-swept treacherous waters,
We held onto each other and prayed to God,
And sought tranquillity.
When on doors locked we knocked, and met closed borders,
In icy weather, while hunger gripped our belly,
We gritted our teeth, survived against all odds
And sought tranquillity.
We search for a safe haven, a home to call our own,
Somewhere to raise our children without fear;
We need a sunny place where we can smile again,
And seek tranquillity.
And in the depths of winter, while one by one we die,
In dark grey fields of war we perish, in perilous journeys we expire.
A cold, bleak, callous indifference kills us all
And in our death we find, at long last,
Tranquillity.
This week, Poets United has as its theme “Tranquillity”. In a world becoming increasingly more violent, more agitated, more unstable, to find tranquillity may be well nigh impossible for the majority of people around the globe. Over the last few months, the shocking news of an escalating refugee crisis in Europe illustrates the point only too graphically.
Vast numbers of refugees have made their way across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe in 2015, sparking a crisis as countries struggle to cope with the influx, and creating division in the European Union over how best to deal with resettling people. More than 750,000 migrants are estimated to have arrived by sea so far this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), but exact numbers are unclear as some may have passed through borders undetected.
Although not all of those arriving claim asylum, over half a million have done so. Germany continues to be the most popular destination for migrants arriving in Europe. It has received the highest number of new asylum applications, with almost 222,000 by the end of August. Hungary has moved into second place, as more migrants have tried to make the journey overland through Greece and the Western Balkans. It had 96,350 applications by the end of July.
The Aegean Sea crossing has seen the deaths of more than 3,000 people this year, but the route is still one of the most popular for refugees trying to cross into the European Union, as the eastern Greek island of Lesbos is only a few hours away from Turkey, where many Syrian refugees are coming from. The majority of people who take boats across the Aegean are using smugglers, whom they have often paid up to 2,000 euros each.
Tranquillity
When the bombs fell and our homes destroyed
In ghastly, fiery infernos,
We screamed, we cried, we ran away
And sought tranquillity.
When soldiers shot at us, and partisans shot back,
In deadly, deafening crossfire,
We crept low, and hoped to flee
And sought tranquillity.
When climbing into trucks, thrown in together,
In fusty, airless, stinking compartments,
We held our breaths and swallowed our tears,
And sought tranquillity.
When thankfully we boarded illegal, leaky boats
In tossing seas and wind-swept treacherous waters,
We held onto each other and prayed to God,
And sought tranquillity.
When on doors locked we knocked, and met closed borders,
In icy weather, while hunger gripped our belly,
We gritted our teeth, survived against all odds
And sought tranquillity.
We search for a safe haven, a home to call our own,
Somewhere to raise our children without fear;
We need a sunny place where we can smile again,
And seek tranquillity.
And in the depths of winter, while one by one we die,
In dark grey fields of war we perish, in perilous journeys we expire.
A cold, bleak, callous indifference kills us all
And in our death we find, at long last,
Tranquillity.
Powerful poem, important reminder of how tranquility has become a luxury. One might wonder how the powers who cause these conditions and make this history have any tranquility left at all, but it is clear that unlike any animal species we know, they have no feeling for their own kin.
ReplyDeleteThe last verse is incredibly well written...for me it certainly put into perspective life struggles...internal ones no doubt are hard but if we were put in the position of having to fight for our lives through no fault of our own...tranquility feels more like an injustice than a wish
ReplyDeleteOh this is relevant and powerful... am glad you wrote this and wrote it so well.
ReplyDeleteSuch a heart wrenching write.. indeed those who are victims of war seek tranquility the most.
ReplyDeletewe cannot help but be transported into this poem, to shed a tear for those displaced and dying, so hopelessly
ReplyDeletea profound write;
much love...
I like the repeating structure of this, signifying how the search for tranquility never ends. I love how your poem ends too.
ReplyDeleteOh, Nick, this is a painful and heartbreaking poem to read, Nick. What an awful situation this is. When will the world learn! And how can each of us help? It really is sad, but in death there is tranquility, but it is sad to have to reach that point to find it.
ReplyDeleteYou make very real the plight of these refugees, who wish only for a place where they can live their lives in peace. So well written! I felt the sadness of their reality even more, reading this poem, than I already have watching the news. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou have really gotten into what it must be like to be one of these refugees. Such a sad, sad tale that says so much about the human condition. Thank you too for commenting on my poem.
ReplyDeleteAmazing poem that makes us think about the plight of hundreds of thousands of unfortunate people, many thousands of whom die in the attempt to find a life of peace and tranquility.
ReplyDeleteWhat a strange animal is the human that does not appreciate the calm, ordered existence that most of us seek but for ideological or political reasons think that power and control are desirable but to had only by few.
ReplyDelete' in perilous journeys we expire' and 'A cold, bleak, callous indifference kills us all' - time when humans become the part of the lifeless mechanism of distraction. Powerful, important poetic monument for generations! Strong write!
ReplyDeleteNick, I am crying as I read and reread both your factual post and your poem. You make a terrible truth about our current world clear to mind, heart, spirit and body. Thank you for being a truth teller.
ReplyDeleteA poignant and incisive poem about a shameful occurrence. Refugees are human beings and their suffering is like our own suffering. What they are going through is unimaginably horrific
ReplyDeleteThis is such an amazing tribute to what tey have suffered and I applaud you for remembering them even after the headlines have forgotten!
ReplyDeleteMy ~ that is bleak, yet powerful.
ReplyDeleteI felt your yearning for tranquility in this battle poem so well-written of yours. very intense. I liked it.
ReplyDeleteA depressing situation...in this brutal world tranquillity can only be achieved by death for too many people. A good point you made. I cannot see a solution for this situation. It is awful that people have little choice but risk death rather than stay in their own country. Something has to be done. It cannot go on like this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeletePeace.