Drowning

foreseeing the worst

The sight around me is awful to behold,

worse than any tragedies and stories ever told.

 

In a minute or so, I'll join the chorus of cries,

breath of life to piteous creatures denies.

 

Such sweet death to spend with my family

as we hang on to the mercies of a mango tree,

 

praying to deities to spare us please,

from cold waters creeping up our knees.

 

Shouts of help and screams in the air,

unanswered sighs melting to despair…

 

Deaf heavens and unconcerned lords,

unimpressed by hearts' tears and words.

 

Water reaches necks and acceptance sinks in

where our disbelief and denial have once been.

 

Unfortunate fates--oh tragic! So tragic!

Like Noah's flood and the sinking of Titanic!

 

If hope and rainbows are still not found,

no dry land or habitable ground,

 

hell seems warm and heaven, bright…

The less air I breathe, the lovelier the sight.

Author's Note

Original link: http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/arzeljoy_blu/1264323/

I was one of those unfortunates who experienced Typhoon Haiyan's rage last November 2013. It was one of the most traumatic events in Philippine history.

Reviews

[Just Kim]

Unfortunate fates--oh tragic! So tragic!
Like Noah's flood and the sinking of Titanic!

Amazing lines, this is pretty darn good. you write great

[emipoemi]

The last couplet completely shook me. Holy woah! My only critique is that Stanza 2 seemingly has a grammatical error involving "denies". By the wording, it unfortunately is supposed to be "denied", and poetic license is invalid under these circumstances. But everything else is strong, vivid, and absolutely moving. Well done!!

[Bowers]

you are so talented, seriously, I envy your ability to express your talent through beautiful, deep but enhanced vocabulary! Tragedies fall, death rises.... and we crumble...

[Oyindamola Shoola]

this brought tears close to my eyes... I don't really know much about the news but you have presented it well and given me a clear image of what I have missed... I wish every face ended with a smile and not that of serene agony and struggle for breath... thanks for sharing

[Cassie]

It was all over the news and the world at large felt the pain, this poem is really scary, just the thought of seeing death in front of your eyes and you have no way out is really scary.