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Friday, November 27, 2020

A family lost in the English Channel

The quest for just an ordinary life- risks and rewards

By Zita Perera Subasinghe

This time of pandemic and lockdown is a time for reflection on what really matters. We were greatly saddened by a family swimming the ocean to reach their land of dreams when the boat they were being carried, along with many others, capsized. A mother, father and three children, one a mere baby, made a last desperate effort and tried to swim the ocean to reach the land.

I find comfort in penning my thoughts in poetry and sharing with my valued colleagues.

 A family is lost in the English Channel

 


 





 

Waves, waves swallowing up

A struggling little family

Whoosh! Crash! Bang! Wallop!

As these five swim crazily

 

Avoiding sharks, snails and whales

Breathless, frozen, nearly exhausted

Swimming away from rushing gales

On this crazy ocean, blasted

 

Mum hears end of a son’s crying

Dad has just begun to scream

A little family merely trying

To reach land and live their dream

 

One by one, each one gives up

While big waves just froth and foam

Dream in each somehow lives up

As given up spirits freely roam

 

Final observation: Any such attempts should be stopped at the start of their journey by controlling those who organise these attempts and enlightening the risk-takers of their folly and make them give up “the grass is greener on the other side” mentality.

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12 comments:

  1. MahendraNovember 27, 2020 at 3:36 PM

    A beautiful and thoughtful poem by our one and only Zita. The Pandemic has brought out the best and sometimes, hopefully less often, bad in us. As doctors we have a privileged role in alleviating human suffering . When I read this poem, I could feel the anguish Zita went through as a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a doctor and as a human being.

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  2. Srianee DiasNovember 27, 2020 at 4:55 PM

    Zita, you were obviously deeply affected by this story. Thank you for sharing your poem with all of us. People risk their lives to get to greener pastures, but the sad truth about refugees is that there are many ruthless people who exploit them. Think of all the lives lost in the Mediterranean Sea while crossing from North Africa to Southern Europe. There are people who charge them money and then pack them into boats that may not be sea-worthy. Then there are "coyotes" who promise safe passage to immigrants trying to get into the US through the southern border. There is always someone trying to "make a buck" through the misfortune of others. It is a tragedy and I don't know what we can do about it.

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  3. Lucky AbeyNovember 27, 2020 at 7:38 PM

    Beautiful poem Zita. Many thanks.

    I still try to write the minimum!

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  4. Dr Nihal D AmerasekeraNovember 28, 2020 at 4:06 AM

    Zita
    Yet another masterpiece from Zita. So relevant to the present climate written with feeling and understanding. I could feel the sheer desperation, sadness and the anguish. Thank you.

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  5. ZitaNovember 28, 2020 at 4:50 AM

    First of all I thank, Lucky and Mahendra for approving this article for publication on our Blog. I feel we can propagate ideas to save our fellow beings and highlighting follies is one way. Thanks. Nihal, it is a special thing for me to accept your words of approval. When it comes from someone so eloquent as you on so many subjects it means even more. Thanks and we look forward to Your Next Masterpiece! Zita

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  6. Lucky AbeyNovember 28, 2020 at 8:09 AM

    It was Speedy who approved it.

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  7. Harischandra BoralessaNovember 28, 2020 at 8:44 AM

    Zita
    An excellent poem,written with a lot feeling.Sad and moving.
    Bora

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    Replies
    1. ZitaNovember 28, 2020 at 2:40 PM

      Thanks! That's great of you to comment. I do appreciate it. It is sad I agree. Hardly anything we can do, except if those in those very places take interest to stop this waste of human lives. Zita

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  8. AHTSDecember 1, 2020 at 2:29 AM

    Human trafficking has become a big business and that should be tackled in the first instance.

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    1. ZitaDecember 1, 2020 at 7:18 AM

      You are so right. This sad, unnecessary loss of life is happening all the time and nothing is being done to stop it. It should really begin in the countries from which people are trafficked with unscrupulous individuals taking massive amounts of money only to put them in overcrowded, unseaworthy boats knowing very well they won't reach the destination and once the boat is lost. at sea it is left to blameless countries of destination to rescue them and usually it is too late by the time they arrive. I think in the 21st Century there is no excuse for these primitive type of escape to be allowed. We can attempt to go to Mars but only few are interested in helping desperate people in their agony. I know I get worked up, talking about this but the next step should be each one of us do our bit at least to highlight it perhaps. Zita

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  9. Srianee DiasDecember 2, 2020 at 6:59 AM

    Zita, as you have pointed out with so much feeling, it is a very sad situation. As individuals, there is not much we can do. I sympathize with the desperate people who are trying to get away from difficult and dangerous situations in many countries. One way to make a difference is to support established and reputable international organizations which attempt to reduce poverty throughout the world. Some of them are: Oxfam, CARE, HOPE (Humanitarian Organization for Poverty Eradication), World Vision etc. There are many more. If one wants to help refugees directly, the organizations I would suggest are: IRC (International Rescue Committee), Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders,UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) etc. I think it is important to improve the living conditions in the poorest countries which drive these desperate people into making dangerous and risky choices. Some are also fleeing war, conflict and persecution, and these organizations are attempting to help them. Perhaps our collective small contributions will help... Thank you Zita, for raising our awareness.

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  10. ZitaDecember 8, 2020 at 1:46 PM

    Thanks Srianee! Sorry that I have taken a week to reply to your invaluable comment giving details of organisations and adding much needed information on what could and should be done by individuals. The details you have given show everyone what to do to help these desperate people. You are quite right about the need to improve the living conditions in the well known countries from where people flee.
    I often wonder why other more prosperous countries do not seem to do much to highlight these most common problem areas and get their leaders to act and also offer more help so their citizens no longer have to look out to sea in desperation. Many thanks again from Zita

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