Poem for the disaster

[Isagel]

In sweden there have been alot of memorials since the tsunami disaster. We have been very much spared , in wars and accidents until now. The beaches where a popular tourist resorts for scandinavians and we might have lost thousands, many of them children. We are a small country, and this might be the worst disaster we have ever been involved in. Still we are doing much better then the inhabitants of the countries involved. We are the lucky ones, the privileged.

The one glimps of light is that the politicans here have started to use words like solidarity again - I haven´t heard that since I was a kid. And people get together and give alot of money and help. So far I think that about 400 million kronor - that is more than 40 million dollars has been collected, and sent. And more is coming. More is needed.

We have had gatherings at work, and this poem was read. I translated it and wanted to share it. It´s not about the disaster, but it fits well.


The pictures by Ylva Eggehorn from"Hjärtats knytnävsslag".

Pass me the pictures, the still undamaged ones
The child that learns to walk
Amongst the ruins
The grass that blossoms
With scentless flowers
The tree that reaches out a branch filled with leaves
windplaying guides
to the sea.
Pass me the pictures
The ones that feed me
That do not linger and stick
but sing to me with low voices
about al those things I already now.

[Isagel]

Yes, that is right. In the beginning there was 3000 swedish people reported missing.
They are still trying to sort out the bodies, and we do not know what the final numbers might be. There was between 15 000 - 20 000 swedish people in Thailand. Many of them are injured, traumatized or missing family members.

The care from the people living in the area give to their guests are amazing. The tourists get to stay in peoples homes. Now we have a huge debth to pay back, for all the things we have been given by the ones who has been struck so much harder than us.

Glad that your cousin is OK- and it´s good to see you too.

[mono]

Thank you for sharing the lovely poem, Isagel. And how nice to see you around the forums again - welcome back. I think the tsunami has really impacted the world hard, though it occurred in a very specific area of the Earth. With all disasters, natural or otherwise, however, I feel it strengthens and reminds all of the unity of all of us, regardless of ethnicity, language spoken, appearance, or any other petty differences that divide people; empathy and charity require no shared language.
By the way, out of curiosity, how does "Hjärtats knytnävsslag" translate in English?
Thanks again, Isagel.

[Isagel]

I can´t translate it, is a twist of words.

Hjärtats = the hearts´, or of the heart
Knytnäve = (clenched) fist, knytnävs = of the fist
slag = beat

so something like The hearts beat of a fist - or perhaps the Clenched fist beat of the heart?

[Bongitybongbong]

That was beautiful, yet so sad.

[subterranean]

<sniff>

that's a lovely poem Isagel. I heard a really high statistic? That something like 3000 swiss people were either missing or reported dead? It was a very high number anyway for such a little country as yours.

I have a cousin teaching in Thailand, thankfully he was in Bali when the tsunami struck. He is back in Thailand helping as much as he can now. It breaks my heart to see how the people of all those countries affected have lost everything.

Great to see you around again.

Yes the number of deaths is immense and the worst thing is it's still counting. Nature is trully in rage :(.
Btw Den, how's your cousin like Bali. I'm glad that the situation there has back to normal and many tourists are visiting. After the bomb, there were hardly none and it caused a big hit to the local people's economy cause they really depend on the tourism sector. My last visit was almost 2 years ago and I've been looking some time to see the beautiful island again :)