And let the World flood with tears

(Anatomy of an Earthquake)

Extraordinary oscillations in distant lands

Could have warned of the destruction

To palm laden paradise sands

Who’s to know? Who’s to say?

It’s a holiday…

Boxing day…

06.58

The Great Mother we’d taken for granted

another victim of our vapidity,

gave a reminder of her Wrath.

 An azure sky, drenched in a sun-born-haze,

shimmered deceptively on a foam-topped petticoat

that would soon become ablaze.

 Deep beneath the watery folds, away from human gaze

wretched bowels were on the move

-Compressed-

with oblique convergence. Cracking in a grating groove.

A mega-thrust

made Andaman and Nicobar dance to a thunderous tune

birthing sea furies that would bring death

and destruction soon…

In a far away land, a seismograph scribbled

an erratic etymology of an unspeakable word

with unsteady hand. 

And although none heard,

it would be whispered on the wind

and upon the lips of the dying, trapped in the sand…

“Sue-Naa-Me”

People going about their daily routine – unaware,

golden beaches filled with tourists, sunning away care.

Unexpected was their plight,

it was on them in seconds like a thief in the night,

this pirate of the ocean blue

that robbed them of their lives, being sparring to few.

“With what adorning hue shall I entertain

this monster that comes our way?

For there is no time to run away.”

In moments, whole histories’ were lost

and a history made,

while humanity was left to count the cost

 The choices of abstaining fools

now lay lifeless, floating in stagnant pools.

For what was there to be done

under that ever darkening sun?

Life and detritus became as one

struggling for survival where much had gone.

Washed away…

But we are undefeated and we are strong

 resolute in our resolve

and this is just a lamentable song.

So let this dying music that fades

Sink beneath the waves

and let the World flood with tears.

Paul Williams © 2005