A scene in slow motion

      

Collision 

   Still have not forgotten
        that I was sleeping with one eye open.

        Still with fear I remember
        that terrible deadly December,
        in the south China sea,
        while we were adorning the 
                                                 Christmas tree...

         Our vessel collided forcefully with 
                                                           another ship,
         and for both vessels it would be 
                                                           [the last trip…

         It was a matter of seconds
                                              [the boom..
         Our left tanks and pump room
         blew with a loud thunder…

         Sparks* yelled at me 
             "jump overboard brother"                    *Radio operator

         while, similarly he was diving
                                       [into the cold ocean..

         This scene goes through my mind,
                       [like a movie in slow motion…


         We knew we would not live for long in the lifeboat
         surrounded by floating flaming oil which 
                                                                   [coated my throat,

          after the battle I waged with the waves before…
          (In the life saving boat was Sparks and  more)…

           Brits brought us on to their ship, 
                                                          [and of us they took care,

           as a British destroyer put an end to our nightmare..
           They gave us warm cloths and also fish steak..

           As James Joyce* wrote, 

             [a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.


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* Extract from "The Broken Mooring Line", an experiential
poetic work // page c5 // e-mail: pmataragas@yahoo.com //
Texts and Narration: Odysseus Heavilayias - ROTTERDAM //
Language adjustments and text adaptation: Kellene G Safis - CHICAGO//
Digital adaptation and text editing: Cathy Rapakoulia Mataraga - PIRAEUS

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* James Augustine Aloysius Joyce ( 1882 – 1941) An Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century. Joyce: "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake".
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The Tales of a Greek Sailor