The Visit Of The Monster, Haiyan Poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen

How could a monster visit my island
And leave so much pain and anguish
to the heart, mind and eyes?
How could a monster sweep away our homes,
our fields, our schools and playgrounds,
and all our means to live on
and left us with nothing to cook, eat,
drink, wear and sleep on?

How could a monster like Haiyan
Gather our tears over dead bodies
of our loved ones, blotting and bursting
under heavy rains and the hot sun?
Still others, never to be found, perhaps
rotting in the bottom of our ocean
or buried in the heap of ruins and sand?
How could a monster Haiyan
deny us from giving decent burial
to our fallen loved ones?

How could we sing our songs of joy
When our children, parents,
brothers and sisters in these
damned towns and fishing islands
scream for hunger, cold and thirst
even days after the horror and nightmare
brought by the visit of this monster, Haiyan?

_________________
Haiyan is name for Super Typhoon that struck the Philippine islands
in the Visayas region, killing thousands and depriving the survivors
means to live on.