She was named Christena
In Latin it means “Follower of Christ” for those who never met her.
And of her this is a summation of the story of her history as told me.
They say she took to sea one sunny Saturday afternoon August first, 1970 loaded with twice her capacity,
No one aboard seemingly mindful of the misery she was about to bring we,
But she lost many a souls at sea.
Saint and sinners perished that day equally.
May we never forget this mon…for it was on the day the Islands were celebrating emancipation.
And oh such agony and pains
From whence we came.
So as I tell the story I reflect on such horrors
Where at the tip of Nags Head she drowned as if being baptized in all her sorrows,
Still unable after 11 years, though willing to cross the Narrows.
Now this story is geared at making us better…a tale of a bitter adventure at sea.
A historical account told phonetically.
Here we go…please, follow carefully.
C…at the bottom of sea you carried and chained many a we…those who traversed for commerce…those who sort to bridge The Narrows for Cultural activities.
Some say the seas were Calm
Some say the Captain and Crew were Callous
Others say of everyone’s need to connect to Charlestown they were just concerned and conscious.
But this we do know for a fact…that on August 1st she left on a voyage out Basseterre and she never to came back.
She never came back…she never came back.
H…is for the hope…although the irony is, some may never see what great maritime opportunity to tighten on security and safety at sea that this tragedy gave to we.
R…is for the resilient rising spirit…for rest, for relaxation, for recreation…for the coming of age to know where we are, yes, maturity and realization.
I…is for our integration…”two little islands, one federation”…initiated by a vessel that once joined these lands…it’s for our independence…our indelibility…our integrity…never let it be lost at sea.
S…is for being Steadfast and stalwart…in fact, boldly, we are still standing.
T…is for the truths and the trust and the fact that about this once bitter hush hush we are now talking up.
E…is for everyone…the embodiment of all earnings…the echoes from all echelons etched on the ears for eons…may we forever be enterprising and enlightening for in our education this our history must always be embracing.
N…is for the Narrows…the nautical nexus where the spirit and even shark infested flesh of 233 of our own rest…may there souls be eternally blessed.
A…is for the awakening of Angels ascending in the aftermath of a nautical apocalypse…may this accident forever in our awareness and actions be an aberration to our astute nation.
Poem Written by Tafari Ayinde