The swelling rocks boats in harbours
As the life-giver's anger builds
Though the skies are clear, the water roars
And starts to punish our homes
A lucky few scramble onto rooftops
But for most there is no time to act
Their bodies caught up in the raging ocean
As our protector becomes our downfall
The liquid flows, unstoppable and unforgiving
Plucking soul after soul from life
Babies cry as they are ripped from the arms of their mothers
Mothers cry as the light of their life is blotted out so easily
Husbands cry because they cannot save their love from death
Even the children realise that this is no game
They do not cry
They go silent and close their eyes
They wish the water away
But wishes are not enough
Lives are crushed in an instant of misfortune
Even the survivors have little prospects remaining
To rebuild seems impossible
When the foundations you build on are destroyed
But rebuild they did, to an extent
Over time the wounds cut so suddenly began to heal
But the trauma, the fear, the certainty of your own death
That will never fade.
At least 230,000 people died on the 26th December 2004, many more are still missing. The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami was one of the most devastating natural disasters in human history. This poem will make no difference to that, but I would still like to dedicate it to all the people who lost their lives, family or livelihood in the disaster.