DYING WISH IN LOST PARADISE

Amidst the howling of mighty winds,
heavy downpour of torrential rains—
flash floods and storm surge,
I could hear the frantic cries of a mother
trying to save her newly born child
from drowning,
as her house was swept off
by the raging waters.
Desperate cries for help--
both old and young alike  
reverberated in my ears
before I finally lost consciousness
while clinging
to a piece of broken rafter.

The scorching heat of the tropical sun
awakens me from a deep slumber
thinking I’m having a nightmare—
it’s a nightmare all right
for when I open my eyes
I’m surrounded with stinking dead bodies—
their stench fills my lungs,
and clings to my skin.
For many days
I’m walking among the dead,
talking to myself,
walking till I drop dead.
For how long I have no idea—
lost track of time…
I get up and keep walking
trying to figure out
where the hell am I?
I’m quite sure
this is not my island paradise.
Where are the beautiful orchids
that cling to its majestic trees
and the towering coconut trees,
which adorn its magnificent shorelines?
The lush gardens filled with varieties
of wonderful flora and fauna
once enjoyed by many from foreign shores,
the verdant hills overlooking the deep blue sea,
and most of all its warm and caring people
I wonder where they are…

All of a sudden there comes a rumbling –
a rumbling inside my stomach, aching
No foods in sight just rain water to drink!
Hunger I can overcome,
but the thoughts of losing my island paradise—
that’s way beyond the realm
of my numbing senses.
For those of you who may be lucky to read this
I beg of you to grant me my dying wish—
support those left behind to get up on their feet:
shower them with your fervent prayers,
open your doors with caring hearts,
and share whatever you have
because I will keep on knocking
outside your closed and selfish minds
so long after I'm gone!


(A tribute to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan)[/font]