a waking nightmare

{dedicated to the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti}

the shaking ground is slipping out from underneath
the feet i was convinced were firmly planted
everything i thought was stable crumbles in the street
and i'm not quite sure
of anything anymore

security becomes a thing of yesterday 
all hopes and dreams, it would seem, have simply flown away
at every corner lurks another hidden tragedy
and i'm not quite sure
of anything anymore


what happens next? how will i carry on?
this nightmare lasts forever; the hope of waking is gone...
the fear has turned to panic, which has transformed into despair
and i'm not quite sure
of anything anymore

remember?

how quickly the world has moved on
minus one small island
not one life here
bears any sign
of tuesday's grand disaster

how did they all forget so fast..
push it from their minds?
as for myself
it is still here
keeping me up at night.

haiti.

the images they haunt me
corner and rebuff me
suffocate and drown me
in despair and hopelessness

blood and dirt
sweat and tears
wailing, weeping, praying
pain so deep
no bandage
could ever bring relief

families torn apart
crying out from rubble
elederly who lie
on the dirt from which they came

who will come to stop this madness
who will drive away these visions

no one.