Zeebrugge

On 6 March 1987 the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry sailed out of the Belgian harbour without properly securing the car deck doors and 189 people lost their lives.

Flying up the lowlands North Sea coast
to Amsterdam above a sheet steel sea
two days after disaster filled the bulletins

Above waves breaking on a harbour wall
and round an upturned ship so close
an agile man could jump from quay to hull

From the bird's eye view
an open door leads to catastrophe
as well as opportunity