Shivering, shuddering beneath the leaden skies
soaking them, water running everywhere and lies,
all finding its way under their skin.
—
Pushed, unauthorised but terrified into obeisance,
obedience to the traffickers as the lights flicker
and waves roar over hard rocks.
—
Huddled, terrified they hold onto the frail touches
of each other and a craft barely above the seething
waters of a writhing sea.
—
There’s a guiding hand on the halting, struggling tiller,
and fear climbs and falls with the North Seas power,
and chugging ships churning wake.
—
A shout, Land!
and sand and shores and folk with fluffy blankets,
breaking the law set by a brutal minister.
—
Warmed, dried, dinking clean water, eating cold food,
huddling, terrified as they are found to be wanting
and treated like criminals.
—
‘We’ve come from Afghanistan where we worked for you.”
“We’ve run from a regime and my British Aunt is near.”
“Don’t send me away. I am only a child.”
—
Shivering, shuddering beneath the glowering gazes,
Huddled, terrified of where they will be going, They
only asked for mercy.
—
Still, the powers want them gone, still the people
are taught refugees are wrong, a transgression
of oppression
and victims are made victims again.
