Forgotten adventures.
Tales within tales.
A young boy escaped the view of his parents
and found himself free from the governess
and in a room of beautiful books.

He saw one specially bound one
that he had to have.

It was red and black
and in English – his native tongue –
and he thought he could read it
on the days in his voyage to Liverpool.

He hid it in his waistcoat
and went back to his governess’ care
and read it at all points he could find himself alone.
There were not many.

Many of the words were beyond his understanding
and beyond his ken
for it seemed to be a political text.
He wondered if he should return the book
and every day thought perhaps he should go back to the room
but could only find time to read
not to escape.

It didn’t matter, of course.
The book
as were most of the passengers
proved lost, after all.
The little boy and his family’s name was lost as well
so we’ll never be sure if he made it out
from the sinking of the Lusitania.