Piraeus

there is something in a harbor that is anticipative
something in it is a promise, rose-colored

and lofty like the six o’clock sun sinking into the Aegean Sea
something in it tumbles like its waves do

lapping at the whims and the noises of the sailboats first
tasting deliverance, or reaching their asylum

there is something in a harbor that is satisfied
something free, until glimpses of tomorrow

hide away beneath the early-twilight birth
of stars that bathes this welcomed sea

until tomorrow does not
hasten to be seen

until time is an expanse and this land is
unfamiliar, and pain-stricken new

until the stealthy sea beckons “onward” to the shore
with the seduction of a song

but you—are shrinking backward, becoming small
you are yielding to your oppressors

and you have promised that you will not stay
for long, but your hands are empty

your womb—full, you do not know the words
on the tongues of your neighbors

and you are surrendering your bounty to the
irresistible pull of the far-away moon

on these sullen harbor tides, the tides of
your abysmal sacrifice

pull your feet up from the water now, and eulogize
the countries that you fought through

like the one who believed in the
light across the bay

the sea that was your savior has betrayed you
so drift to sleep now, at the port

for here, you’ll stay

The Port of Piraeus in Athens, Greece has become home to thousands of refugees stranded in the current global crisis.

By Meg Rodriguez

Biography:

Meg Rodriguez is an emerging writer from St. Louis, MO who currently resides in Nashville, TN with her husband. While attending the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, OK, Meg studied French and the Biological Sciences but made quite an impact with her poetry. She received awards each year for her submissions to the student literary journal, and she also enjoyed the opportunity to perform twice at the annual TEDx University of Tulsa conference. Meg currently works as a one-on-one teacher while she continues to grow her work as a writer. Much of her poetry and other short works lend artistic attention to marginalized people and voices. You can follow Meg’s writing and other endeavors at megsmithrodriguez.wordpress.com.