Singles at Sea

A very touching poem written by Claire Baldry about a first holiday venture alone. As we grow older lots of us take the plunge and holiday alone. This poem is about two older people who meet on a cruise ship.

Singles at Sea

Train reached the station,
She alighted at Dover,
Pulled tickets from handbag,
Her luggage fell over

Queue slowed behind her,
She felt bothered and harassed,
A hand grabbed her cases,
She felt hot and embarrassed

Outside on the roadway
A taxi was hailed
To drive to the port,
Before her ship sailed

Luggage offloaded,
Security queue,
Health questionnaire finished,
They let her pass through

Credit card noted,
Plastic key for the door,
Passport returned,
It dropped on the floor

Again the line faltered,
But her passport was found,
A hand reaches out,
Picks it up from the ground

First time on a cruise ship
Without family or friend,
She still feels the loss,
But her heart’s on the mend

Alone in a cabin,
More space to unpack,
Her clothes in the wardrobe,
Her shoes on the rack

A rest before dinner,
Pour tea from the tray,
Then climb the wide staircase
To watch sail away

The music is playing,
Champagne in her hand,
The ship leaves the dockside
To the sound of the band

Then stood by the lido
A glimpse of the face
That had rescued her passport
And lifted her case

He glances towards her,
Approaches quite near,
‘It’s odd on my own now,
So pleased you are here’

Written by Claire Baldry