20th August 1989

A rumour, a word, gossip, a hint

Of disaster

In river

‘Pon seat edges we sit.

Fragmented news of terror on Thames

Of boat sunken fast

Lost people within.

Patchy reports

Police radio heard

Of survivors – so fortunate?

Their tales of despair.

City wide efforts

Resources on call

People so willing

Together they pull.

A search of the reaches

As bodies appear

Talk of a morgue

Grim sightings at piers.

New day slowly dawning

On the price that’s been paid

Press conference is called

As hopes slowly fade.

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About Stephen Kemp (The Poet Tree)

Jack of all-trades - master of none...but working on it
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1 Response to 20th August 1989

  1. Thought this one might need some explanation. I was on duty in an emergency room the night it happened and wrote this the morning after. Nowhere to put it then but in a book, so I thought it needed an airing.

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