Under The Bell-Tower…..The Naming Of The Drowned Poem by John Stokes

Three chimes
The Immigrants are coming
Small white birds

Unknown mother
Unknown boy
Unknown, unknown

They come walking on water
Walking on their children
Rolling them in black water

And we knew they were coming
Mouth on mouth
Crammed like money in a pocket

Thirsty from the diesel
Starved in dark water
They contribute their sad dancing

Of birth and death
I saw a baby
Still connected by umbilical chord

My wife is descended from The Prophet
He will save us
We must be strong

They were unforgiven
They could not hold They slipped
Away in dark water

Unknown father
Dr Kamal Mohson Al-Battat.
At night I hear them drowning

Small white birds in the water.


John Karl Stokes

From 'The House is Not Quiet and the World is Not Calm' Ed. Kit Kelen and Geoff Page,2015.