Yolanda 2013 Poem by Steele Daniel

The calm before Yolanda
I Whisper prayers in preparation
Thoughts of the harm before it’s caused
Homes wrecked and Separation
The effects of a storm
Death, hurt and the suffering of a nation
These things keep me up
Seated.
Rocking.
Wrapped in my countries flag, the only thing that can keep me warm
Evacuated Far from harm but I die when calls to my parents are not received
I wait and listen.
Here the breeze blows a gentle beast
There the gusts roar as nature is unleashed
Miles away but my blood runs silent
I fear for the family I left
Is it right that you are out of my reach?
You stay in touch with my emotions
They run for you
Tears flow free as I receive news
An estimated 1000 lives taken
Devastation in village’s, towns and my city
Making Global news
I remain frozen as calls still don’t get through
But media continues to come
Up rooted trees, fathers without sons,
Houses taken in the wind
Ruins left by the floods
I choke on every breath
As I see faces of motionless mothers down in mud
My eyes close powerless
Still no news from my loved ones
Tell me where my home is now
Tell me where I go
Tell me how to be more than a frightened girl aged fourteen
Who fears to sleep alone and dream to wake to a nightmare:
The passing of Yolanda in the Philippians.
Days go by like years
And a gentle breeze blows through the aftermath
Our flag still stands we still have land
A base to build our hope from
Now life has a new meaning
Move forward as one
Salvage- What is lost, is never forgotten
Aid - What was destroyed, will be rebuilt together
Relief- News of rescues emerge
A wreck overturned
I have faith my family survived in God’s hands


~ Steele Daniel