Below Deck on The Titanic
To Trina Jacobs
285 Warren Street
Brooklyn, New York
11201, USA
My Dearest Trina
The time we spent together in London is my greatest treasure. I was so looking forward to us being reunited in NewYork. I fear that my desire to look into your beautiful blue eyes will not be realised. In fact the odds of you ever reading this note is extremely remote. Still I must put my thoughts to paper.
I took every last penny I had to pay for this third class ticket. I was so excited to board this marvel of engineering. They touted her as being unsinkable. Ah, the folly of man. Someone told me, Captain Smith said that ”God Himself, could not sink this ship.” The Titanic is an incredible vessel. I wish I could have experienced her grandeur. I have viewed pictures of the grand staircase that leads to the ballroom. She really is a spectacular lady. The reality below deck is far different. Still my fellow passengers are a resilient lot. Like me they dream of a better life. (I do wish they smelled better.) There are locked gates that prevent us from entering the upper decks. It’s these same gates that are preventing our escape. The screams of these unfortunate people will follow me to the next life.
A part of me wants to scream along with them. The injustice of it all. Still I will not waste my last breaths on feeling sorry for myself. I am on my top bunk as I watch the Sea water slowly rise. But my heart is with you my love. I am living a lifetime with you in a few minutes. We are watching fireworks in Time Square. You are holding the child we could have had. A million moments of laughter around dinner tables. Weddings, anniversaries, graduations. Grey hair, wrinkles and a home to call our own. Fireside conversations on cold nights.
I pray that you know how loved you are. There is so much more I wish to say to you. Unfortunately the water has almost risen to the level of my top bunk. I am placing this message in a bottle in hopes that it might find its way to you one day soon. You my dear are everything I have ever desired. Please remember me.
All my love
Samuel James Carson
April 15, 1912
A few hours after Samuel sealed his message in the bottle, the Titanic sank to the Ocean floor and split into three parts. This allowed the bottle to rise to the surface of the water. It popped up beside one of the lifeboats and a young mother with two children retrieved it from the water. It would be several months before his message would reach Trina in NewYork City. That however is a story for another day.
‘Titanic-Fare Thee Well” Contest.
Sponsor Tom Woody
Written Jan 14, 2024.
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment