The Backdoor Immigrants Somewhere In Sandakan Poem by RIC BASTASA

he was not fully briefed
about the harshness of the situation
arriving in Sampurna
the search lights roamed like basins
the old woman like the rest jumped over the boat
the two remaining boatmen
have to pull the nets and pretend that they
are all fishermen
meanwhile he vomited and vomited
it was cold and dark and everything that
they know was fear
and the uncertainty of it all made them shiver
to the idea
that at that night they would all be shot and
simply be buried in the sea

he regretted leaving Gulayon
where life is free and not as miserable as they
met their fate there

the religious women called for all the names of the
saints
santiago, santa maria, san gabriel, san antonio
santa felomina

the old man named Toreno who had lost faith
despite the pain as he was shot on his leg
laughed at all these saints saying, ' mention
some more ladies, how can you keep them all
inside this sack? '

it was horrible, it was so horrible
when he told me about this he was crying