The roaring waves

In the roaring waves,

this ship is trapped,

pushed                back—

the hull wonders whether

the keel would kneel,

not strong enough to hold.

It shudders at the thought

of capsizing,

buried in depths unknown,

immobilized—

nothing in sight.

In the roaring waves,

the ship finds power to sail,

as the rudder pushes                      on.

Sinking, it thinks,

would be better than waiting

forever

at a deadly calm sea,

where the wind’s long gone,

without air to breathe.

It cruises forward

unsteadily

with a broken compass,

and a dream to dock ashore.

In the roaring waves—

this ship finds dread.

In the roaring waves—

this ship finds solace.

Jiji Lubis is a journalist, news editor, and columnist based in Jakarta, Indonesia. An occasional hermit with seven cats, she writes poetry as a therapy for her prolonged mental health battle. Her poems have been by *82 Review, Sage Cigarettes Magazine, Messy Misfits Club, and Raven Muse Magazine. Her Instagram is @ink.trospective.