JEFFREY FEBI'S POEM

                                                                      

Parting ways

(Adapted from Parting ways in an upheaval by Jeffrey Febi)

Firmly tucked into mamas’ arms

Gaze of infants into mamas’ eyes

Breathing mamas’ exhaustion

In the belly of an evil Queen

Pregnant in a time of turmoil

With deceit, money and negligence

Listening to mamas’ frantic heart beats

 Hearing mamas’ confused cries

Feeling mamas’ grips loosen

Three idiots they came! And many separated

Parting ways in an upheaval

Each one to own an unmarked watery plot

Yet still dawn undresses the dark

Oh those companions of birds!

Their backs to the scorching sun

When next a sea bird, gull or tern

Sings frantically over the sea; probably

To them that play on the ocean floor

 

Of this poem Jeffrey Febi said:

On the morning of 30th April, while watching dawn spread its beauty across the sky, I thought it would have been really wonderful to accompany it with the music of the birds and the cry of a baby or child waking up from sleep. Then I remembered those unfortunate families whose children have perished that tragic night aboard MV Rabaul Queen.

Words may not be adequate to express my anger and feeling of disappointment; nevertheless, I found some sort of comfort writing this piece.

Commentary

The Anuki Country Press found this poem so intriguing that we have decided to have it adapted here for the benefit of our readers. Note the deliberately blurred photo above to go along with the mood of the poem. The photo is in fact a shot of Mrs. Wendy Soaba and child Atticus, taken in 1986.