Cyclone Namu

Were You there?

Would You rape Your own creation

and tear it apart?

Would You thrust down the massive trees

and destroy the new-born shoots?

Would You strip naked every living

plant and rend the mountain sides?

Would You change beauty into ugliness

with one almighty blast?

You did.

Was it in anger that You treated us so?

How can we believe otherwise?

Why else should You terrify us,

swamping the land with churning

mud, and uncontrollable rivers?

Why else destroy so many young lives,

and those making heroic efforts to save others?

Did it hurt You to treat your people

so roughly?

Did we need such harsh treatment?

Where was the God of love in whom

we trusted?

Was it love that led You to act thus?

Through “Namu” Your people cried

out and returned to You.

Now as You restore the lost beauty

to Your creation, and bring new life

to the soil,

You can restore Your people to Yourself.

We, like your islands, can be

healed and made new.