TSUNAMI

When the sea stood up
there was no malevolence in it
only certainty

it was not distracted
from its singleminded purpose

it rolled toward the land
inexorable
heedless of walls
the feeble defences erected(intended) to stop it

unmoved by the screams of people
the groaning and smashing of timbers
cars becoming boats and floating
making a mockery of roads

it swept across fields
into towns
up streets
through buildings-picked some up
onward

its speed never varied
it was stopped only
where the land rose  sharply
becoming hills

but it was not a victory for the land
the sea had won
indisputably

and was content then
to swirl about and mock the toes of the hills

when it retreated
it took souvenirs


islands of debris
the roofs of houses
would float far off shore
for weeks