Part of the 2016 LOVE Poetry Festival.

Journey from Hell to Eden
by Colin Guest
 

From bombs and war I had left my home in search of a safe and better life

But little did I know that on the way I would meet the woman of my dreams

Since all jammed together on a rubber boat and seeing your frightened look

I knew I had to try to keep you safe from harm as we set off across the sea

With your long black windswept hair and eyes flashing like globes of light

It made me forget all about the dangerous crossing we were all then making

No longer did I think of death, but about a chance of our living in paradise

If we could but survive and reach the shore, I knew we would be together

The seas were rough, our journey fraught with danger throughout the night

At times I thought we would not survive the treacherous crossing and drown

But at last we reached the shore, where I held your hand and helped you off

On finding you were all alone with no friends or family to accompany you

I told you not to worry, I would protect and keep you safe from harms way

You nodded and understood I spoke the truth, then took my offered hand

Our journey then was hard to bear with hardship seeming endless everyday

We tramped for many long and weary miles with very little food and water

But no matter which country we passed through, no one wanted us to stay

From sunny days to nights spent huddled together with rain pouring down.

We comforted each other and prayed we would succeed in the end and live

Along with many other immigrants we trudged through fields deep in mud

You became so tired one day, you slipped from my grasp and fell to the ground

As I went to help you stand, the look of despair in your eyes made me feel sad

Once on your feet you cried, shaking in fright with legs aching from the strain

I held you close and told you not to cry, then supporting you, we carried on

After struggling on and coming to a small stream, we stopped to rest and drink

But although cold wet and hungry, we had no other choice but to keep on moving

At times, while passing through villages, a few people handed us food and drink

However, these times were few, with our continually hungry as we journeyed on

After countless long and seeming endless miles, we reached a friendly frontier

As we passed through, I kissed and held you tight, and thought about our future

We were lucky to find friends who managed to find us work and a place to live

Although at first our life was hard, together we did our best to make it a good one

Since then our love has grown ever stronger with smiles replacing looks of terror

Despite it hard to forget how difficult life once was, those days have now all gone

No more do we have to dodge bullets and bombs, for now we’re safe and sound

I bless the time we rode the boat together, for you have made my life complete

Now we are married and it safe to go outside, we feel ourselves living in paradise

Each time we walk along hand in hand, joy is in our hearts with love in our eyes

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