The Earthquake, Seven Years Ago Poem by Medha Upreti

middle of the day
     the quake is powerful
a destructive force
     earth's mighty power unleashed
chaos in the wake
     buildings shake and collapse
bodies trapped under rubble pile
      women, children and men
the thousands of lives lost
      the tears on faces
of those left alive
      fifty seconds
time stood still

seven years have passed
     feels like only yesterday
when the earth moved
     the pillars and beams crumbled
the cremations at Aryaghat
     crying eyes, bleeding hearts, broken spirits
seven years have passed
      less than a minute
the earthquake changed fates
      crying eyes, bleeding hearts, broken spirits
fifty seconds
     time stood still
seven years ago on April 25