Earthquake Poem by Fortestson Lokandya Fenelon

Under the threshold of the door
all the roads take rendezvous
in the entrance of the room
the news gave no warning
only the earth knew
No one invited him,
it happened like a thief
It broke, it bruised
It carried away all the buildings
In broad daylight
It took mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers
Cousins and even friends
Tear stained eyes didn't invite him,
Our mouths filled with bitterness
It's the day of misfortune
It's the day we craved blood
Even the ancestors were not saved
No one invited him in bad days
in anger he took control of us,
Seconds later
it went off
left us naked
Without panties
Our intimacy, our dignity, lost under its shadow
everyone looked alike
Every beast looked alike
Day and Night look alike,

We are babies just growing our teeth
every day we change diapers
tonight I will be the thief
so when the earth shakes it will be for its mother and father
I won't give it an invitation
Under the threshold of the door
The breath of the ground is under my feet.