Tsunami morning

Sparkling, stretching ocean blue running to the sand, no-one knew that morning that you planned to run inland

Dreams in millions shattered, hopes of nations lie in tatters, scattered on coasts like litter, rotting in the sun

Years of toil and aspiration wiped out by the force, piled mounds of broken homes and hearts among the detritus

The upside down, the all gone wrong, the crazy world now left behind where boats sit in the city square
and bodies line the shore

The all-pervasive stench of death seeps from the jetsam of lives diverse and all around husbands look for
children lost and wives who've drowned

The tears of childless parents weep for babies, sisters, brothers, children - the plight of orphans
suffering their losses and their pain

The youths who played under tropical rain caught cricket balls with ease, wrote neat school books
and dived and swam and lauaghed in shining seas

The neighbours, grandparents, the elderly abandoned with their injuries - all gone and disappeared,
washed away by show no mercy - two tsunami waves

Lives in thousands stolen from the village and the shore, homes and crops and fishing boats flattened in the roar

The beauty of an island appalled at what it sees, whispers the tsunami word - brings strong men to their knees

Ocean waters rushing, ripping through the land, the destruction wrought of petty wars seems insignificant

From ancient Lankan ramparts the fishermen look to sea in disbelief and shock and awe
as foamy white tipped waves roll in and gently pat the shore

And a million hands are reaching out and a million eyes see clear that the legacy
of tsunami waves will last for many years

Cathy Low