Lifeboat 12

This section contains the poems “The Envelope,” “The Reasons Why,” “Escape,” “The New World,” “A Sea Change,” “Liver Again,” and “Something New.”

Ken Sparks opens a letter from the King of England and reads that he will be sent to Canada. Ken’s parents explain that the Germans are advancing toward England, and many parents applied to have their children sent overseas on a ship to be out of danger. Ken was selected from among thousands of applicants. His three-year-old sister, Margaret, is too young to go because only children aged five through 15 are accepted. Ken, at age 13, will be one of the older children. However, he can’t tell his friends that he will be leaving: “Loose lips sink ships” (5).

Ken runs out of the house and releases his feelings of anger by lighting some fireworks from his secret stash. His mother died shortly after Ken was born, and he blames himself for her death because a doctor told her she should not have children. Ken’s father married the nanny, Nora, who is now Ken’s stepmother. Ken believes she is trying to get rid of him by sending him away. He resolves not to go but then thinks of the fresh start and adventure that North America could offer him.