Send us your poems on this subject - email south.yorkshire@bbc.co.uk, with POETRY as the subject - and don't forget to tell us where you're writing from. George Amadi, Lagos, Nigeria UNDAUNTED PHOTOGRAPHER
As huge waters insanely flowed everywhere
An unperturbed Sri Lanka man clicked away
True, sneaky Tsunamis killed here and there
Yet, the dutiful photographer's zeal held sway People drowned, their lost belongings drifted
This wiry fellow behind lenses must be gifted
Many horrific pictures he took, spoke volumes
Depicting flooding in immeasurable columns Informed of imminent danger to kith and kin
Hurried back home only to face personal loss
Undaunted by death of children, his very own
Cameraman was back on cue, without a fuss Gimhani Corea Wickremesinghe, from Sri Lanka TSUNAMI
As the early morning dew disappears
The sun peeps out from the clouds
The cheerful birds begin their singing
Not long before the children go to praise God
and worship Lord Buddha
The queen of the sea goes wild
She comes with raging anger
Taking with her not only the poor but also the rich,
the humble and the proud
Destroying everything that gets in her way
What does this mean my readers ??
The queen of the sea which is only one daughter
of mother nature has destroyed a piece of her mother. Why is this ?? It is because mother nature has done something
cruel to her daughter - The sea which caused a TSUNAMI ~~~~ Olga Safonova, Volgograd, Russia What is our nature,dear?
Why it makes us feel such fear?
Maybe people just forgot
Who the master is, who's not.
Maybe we should stop and think
What to do to save the mink,
To enjoy the flowers smell
And fresh air to inhale.
Are we going to have more trouble?
It's no use to sit and grumble.
The more our people exhaust the Earth
The sooner we'll have no Choice
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I see your eyes all day and night,
I have no more force to fight,
I want to find the answer why
I must live and you must die.
What am I to do, my dears?
My eyes have no other tears,
My soul is helpless and alone
I want to throw this hard stone.
I know I must live however
But I'll remember you forever.
In my memories and heart
We will never be apart.
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Do you really think, all's well?
Morrow you will say farewell.
It's the wretchedness again,
Next to joy there's always pain.
There is always dark and light,
There is always peace and fight,
In spite of cold and heavy rains,
The place for hope still remains. Antonette De Cruze, Sri Lanka WHEN THE TIDAL WAVES HIT OUR ISLAND SRI LANKA
26th December, 2004 never to be forgotten nightmare,
When Tidal Waves (Tsunami) hit several countries in the South of Asia Tens of Thousands of precious lives were swept by the angry sea, Millions left homeless, destitute crying out in pleas. Treasured belongings, Fauna and Flora were savaged by the waves, We watched in despair and desperation - our cries aloud we raised. The Fishermen's' livelihood torn and tattered,
Houses, Hotels, Resorts so badly damaged and shattered. The sea did not spare even the Railroads and Highways, Communication and Electricity was disrupted in a very bad way Our beloved country, once the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean',
With her coastal belt now torn apart, fills us with sadness and emotion. Sri Lankans gathered no matter what their colour, race, creed or cast, To dedicate their service to the victims were quick and fast! They showed their love, strength and humanity,
And still give out their best with honesty, dedication and generosity. Relief poured in from many countries around the world, Volunteer workers came in numbers, no matter if they were young or old. To the Tsunami Victims they give out their very best
Pausing for moments to lay their weary heads to rest. The Print and Electronic Media kept us well informed,
To share our views and opinions to the country we belong. India our neighbour also effected by the Tidal Waves,
But to Sri Lanka she pledged Millions of Dollars to Save!. To you we say THANK YOU and to ALL Peoples and Nations,
You will be remembered with gratitude from our generation to generations. Beloved Citizens of Sri Lanka, to 'REBUILD' our Motherland, That's our goal and determination - will go Hand-in-Hand. Thrishana Pothupitiya, a student from Sri Lanka TSUNAMI YOU HIT MY ISLAND HOME
The day was clear
The sun shone bright
Upon my island home
When all at once wailing, echoed from her shores. And it came whirling, swirling, churning and sweeping
A monstrous twenty-foot wave
With a booming voice and mighty hurt
Destroying everything in its way. For hours the waves swept in
Devastating her shores
Countless people lost their lives
From countless faces hot tears poured. It came so fast in swirling rage
No time to think, to save themselves
The waves so high swept above their heads
And swept back with their lives. A heart felt cry echoed throughout
Our beautiful island home.
The whirling sea swept of the smiles
From Sri Lanka’s livelihood. Father and mother grieving
For their loving children lost.
Little children searching everywhere,
Searching for! their parents lost. A grieving father stands by the sea
His dead son in his arms
His agony spread throughout the land
And touched every man’s heart. The waves destroyed many homes,
It swept off many lives.
But through this pain and sorrow
Our people began to rise. From far away people came
To lend a helping hand
Humanity poured through the veins
Of every man and child. The Tsunami which hit our land
On “Uduwap” poya day
Has freed us from ourselves
Has shown us the correct way. Together all of Sri Lanka
Should get over this ordeal
Every one working together
Regardless of nationality colour and creed. The waves shattered Sri Lanka
Yet humanity it could not break.
Compassion, love and kindness reached out to all,
And gave hope in every way. Oh Tsunami you ! hit us
Expecting us to fall.
But we will rise stronger,
Much better than before. Ivan Corea, born in Sri Lanka TSUNAMI
-dedicated to the victims of the Asian disaster - Rumble, rumble,
gathering pace.
Tumble, tumble,
in the early morning haze.
I hear echoes -
children on a beach, laughing, shrieking,
gleefully looking outwards -
Pointing excitedly. A thwack of willow
on leather,
the batsman looks up, aghast -
an unexpected googly. Eat your breakfast,
chides the mother to her son -
he lifts a piece of kiribath. The ‘Queen of the Sea’
goes clickety clack,
man hears the sound of destruction-
he turns his head back. She roared in,
an uninvited guest
Gurgling, swirling,
the grim reaper
from the depths of the sea -
Like a thief
in the morning,
she roared in
yawning. In an instant –
They were gone... Prabhakaran, Emirates THE TSUNAMI MAY RETURN
The monstrous waves reaching the sky,
Lo! Behold, what a dreadful sight,
The giant waves approaching the lives,
And upon innocent lives a million,
To pounce and pounce and pounce. Even as they carried away those lives,
Our actions still betray our conscience,
We still hurt our mother, we still kill her,
Unknown to our deep within,
That one day, the tsunami may return | 
