Member Poem

CARIBBEAN PORT

The cruise ship glides into the harbour
Under the starlit black night-time sky
An enormous multidecked hotel at sea
Finally silent and settled, now at anchor
Passengers still asleep in their staterooms
Crew on duty, now relaxed yet still alert
Staff scurrying around, and always busy
Chefs cooking breakfasts for thousands
Onshore, water shuttles already prepare
For constant flows of tourists to and fro
Dripfeeding this local island’s economy
Masking the resentment of dependency
And as the hot tropical sun starts to rise
Another busy day begins for the shops
Crammed into just a few daylight hours
Trinkets and souvenirs for the masses
Sugar cane rum from local distilleries
Smiles that may be hiding grim realities
A new, softer version of exploitation