Uspomena

This poem was inspired by a photograph I found of my grandfather in a Yugoslav batna mornarica uniform that he had sent to his family as a young man while at sea. I believe the inscription on the back began, "Ja uspomene i duge..."

On a Ship in the Adriatic

I shake with cold, this ship sets heaving sails.
Finding paths paved with unknown stones, it sails.
It sails, the blood horizon melts to sea.

I shake with drink, this ship nears foreign rocks.
From beating drums and drunken jigs, it rocks.
It rocks, the angry waves lash my window.

I shake with prayer, this ship is old and drips.
Under boots the ceiling shakes, it drips.
It drips, the leaking rain anoints my head.

Come here by me and kiss these eyes that cry.
At night I see no stars. There is no sky.

Nicholas Nikic 12.12.2005