Desperate Families

’Twas dark of night when the boat came And tied up at the quay Where desperate families were waiting To cross the stretch of sea. The men who sailed the simple craft Were all in good spirit. They helped passengers climb aboard And showed them where to sit. The boat was low in the water But the crew reassured. The sea would stay calm through the night So nothing need be feared. They cast off, the engine chugged. From home shores they were clear. An hour on, in dead of night, They all began to fear. The full moon cast its silver shine Providing light enough To show the ripple build to waves; The sea was turning rough. The boat was rolling side to side. Soon the swell was spilling. Passengers began to panic As they started sinking. Captain and crew had life jackets And made it to the shore. But those abandoned families Were gone for evermore.