Short Steerage Poems

Courage in Steerage and Porridge

You will never read another
limerick like this one. Was
watching Cinderella when
courage was mentioned.

We heard she had so much courage;
Was stuffed in shoe  in her steerage;
So much delight,
In pretty sight;
She also had tasted it in her porridge.

Jim Horn...

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Seafaring Foreigner 

In steerage on a steamer with
Figs conceiving in Vesuvian soil 
Hidden in a pot of a sturdy trunk
Made of hope and adventure. Fear of
Sights unseen and joys unbeknownst
Of sons and daughters yet.

Hazy canyons of skyscraping giants 
Overshadow brick row houses
Hard at work, ethnic pride
Shameful bathing, worn-in
Clothing and nourishment
Beyond the return to 
Much worse....

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One hundred year’s young.
The
grand old lady
lying still
in the blackness
of time.

Her great hull
standing silent
weeping for
its precious
cargo.

Shivering vaporous forms
of first class and steerage.
Stroll hand in hand
together to the
surging currents
of the Atlantic.

A vast wardrobe
of scattered luggage,
across the sandy floor.
Small ghostly forms
play chasey among
the tattered decks....

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