As waves rose to peace disrupt,

When tremors moved the earth’s crust,

As Nature’s fury and waters rage,

Combined to, terror uncage.

Some who went to sleep never woke up.

Some who went for a dive never rose up.

When the tsunami came and

thousands swept,

As wept and wept all those

who were left.

In the transit camps it is another cry, another wail,

Another sad face, but the same

haunting tale.

But we sit in a quilt, heaters on,

We pity for a moment, then soap operas turned on.

Do we really care, do we really bother,

For that two-month-old child left

without a mother.

Our sighs are fake, and plans futile,

As we party away, when our people cry.

Let’s join hands and come together,

So that somebody’s future can be a bit better.

Let every hand wipe a tear,

Let every heart remove the tsunami fear

Let all of us happiness share

For everybody make it a Happy New Year.

Life is not all about

how happy you are,

but how happy others can be,

because of you.

Life is not all about

how beautiful you are,

but how beautiful the world can be

With your creativity.

Life is not all about,

how successful you are,

but how successful others can be because of you.

Life is not all about,

how long you live,

but for how long people can

remember you,

after you die.

Amisha Chawla,
Class IX A,
St Joseph’s Convent School,
Ferozepore.

This feature was published on January 8, 2004