The Distance And The Line By Chief Engr. Ramer L. Libo-On Poem by Ramer Libo-on

​The sea is generous,
it provides for our table and our tomorrow.
But no paycheck on earth can purchase back
a child's birthday missed,
or a year that slipped through my hands while I was away.
​On this vessel, we learn to fix anything.
We conquer mechanical failure, rough weather, and long hours—
we make solutions out of silence.
But the hardest problems are never on the ship;
they are at home,
where money cannot mend a heartache,
and only presence can bring peace.
​Yet in the middle of the endless water,
a lifeline crosses the dark.
The internet reach stretches across the globe
to bring my family's laughter into my cabin.
They cannot feel my touch,
but they can hear my voice, and know I am listening.
​To my family: you are the reason I sail.
To the company providing our signal to the shore:
thank you for keeping the bridge open,
for giving us connection when we need it most,
and for bringing us home, one call at a time.