The Day Earth Moved

William E. Marks

In honor of a father who lost his son and daughter-in-law.

It was the day after Christmas
when Earth's mighty shoulders
shrugged together
to transform time

Lifting a big wave
no matter the name
shifting weight hidden
beneath

Indian Ocean

Beaches Asian and African
filled with children
people relaxing and playing
caressed by sun

Too late for too many
came the warning cry
as water's heavy hands

slammed
onto balmy white sands

What call of destiny
placed that fateful day
tens of thousands
in harm's way

Now tears of anguish flow
around our Earthly sphere
as loved ones cry
for those held dear

Over 100,000 lost
many untold
taken by eternal sea
to final destiny

We ponder and wonder
the power of water
its beauty, its glory
its horror

William E. Marks is an award-winning poet and author of The Holy Order of Water, founder of Vineyard Environmental Research Institute and former Publisher/Editor of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket magazines. At present, he travels the globe writing and speaking about water while working on a United Nations book project for the forthcoming Decade of Water.

Martha's Vineyard, MA. Jan. 18, 2005