The German ship S/S Prinzess Irene, which carried my grandfather and uncle to America in 1906. They never saw Italy again. The ship was seized by the U.S. Navy during WWI, renamed Pocahontas and turned into a troop transport.
.
The Tempest tossed she bore
the tired and the poor
before she carried soldiers
facing death on a distant shore.
Once she carried hopes and dreams
as he bid farewell to King and country;
no bands were playing on the day
he sailed away from Italy.
His eldest boy just nine, kissed his mom farewell
and holding poppa’s burly hand,
waved goodbye to Napoli.
“Momma will come in May, you’ll see!”
and as they sailed that fateful day
the clanging of a buoy bell
mist and terns off the starboard bow
which they’re passing now as they make way
toward the lamp beside the golden door.
.
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toritto 
Reblogged this on perfectlyfadeddelusions.
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Another poignant memoir, Frank. I can smell that salty air!
Best wishes, Pete.
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That must have been a very, very poignant, and difficult, parting.
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Hi JF – My grandparents already had three children when they came to America. My grandfather traveled ahead with his oldest boy – perhaps to find work or a place to live. He departed in January 1906. My grandmother followed in May with the other two children. They had five more children in New York – my father was the youngest, born in 1917. I knew them all, save the boy on the boat. Then I found his daughter (my new cousin) in Texas.
https://toritto.wordpress.com/2014/08/03/new-cousins/
Regards
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