In the candlelight I see the souls that left
crushed in water-grinder of the tsunami
carried off into a merciless horizon
In the candlelight i hear your gentle voice
I feel the warmth of sand between my toes
and in the whiffle from the sea I still recall
the candlelight that kissed a golden hue
on that smile you left before the wave
the tsunami that carried you to sea
the candlelight of velvet nights that said,
forever-after happy – when you said: YES
before the water separation of our paths
as candlelight reflects the salty tears you left.
Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy
Note. Of course the woodblock by Kanagawa immediately brought back his even more famous Tsunami wave. Soon it’s ten years ago since the tsunami devastated large parts of south-east Asia. I had no real close connections that were lost, but I still remember all the sad stories, and I also know people that survived but had to leave part of their families behind. I’m travelling a lot this week, currently I’m in California on business, but will leave tonight.. and on Friday I will visit my family in Sweden. I will try to read as many entries as possible, but it might not be easy.
Go to the purpleness of Rochelle’s page to learn more about Friday Fictioneers.
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June 4, 2014
Björn Rudbergs writings 
ugh. can you imagine…all you know washed away in an instant like that….all the more all the people gone so fast….heart wrending to think on…
A former colleague of mine came back alone, father mother and sister all gone.. she was believed to be lost to, but she had been injured and not reported back properly.
Bjorn, Lovely memorial to the victims of that horrendous tsunami. It came inland on the eastern coast of India and we heard a lot about it. But, fortunately, we’re about 300 km inland from Mumbai on the western coast. Well written. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read my story and comment. Have a safe trip back home. 🙂 —Susan
Thank you.. and thank you for all your comments…
You took the right decision to put it into verse Bjorn
Thank you.. yes it felt natural…
Nice words, Bjorn.
Lovely, Bjorn. From warm sand to killing waves. Well done.
A heart wrenching story, beautifully told. Your poetry is brilliant, Bjorn. And it is a lovely tribute to those who were lost, or whose families and friends were lost.
Your words echo the golden hue of the photo – an apt connection to the sorrow caused by the tsunami. As always, you’ve captured the emotions in the small gestures. Beautiful writing.
I can hear your vice in this. it makes it all the more poignant.
Very power-packed Bjorn. I began a memoir, “The Wave”, about the tsunami in SE Asia and just couldn’t finish it. The writer was the sole survivor of her family–her husband and two boys taken from her. I read a lot of sad stuff and did get through the event itself but the aftermath, how it affected her, was so harrowing. Maybe someday. It’s still on my Kindle.
Yes.. it was devastating to read.. this Christmas it’s 10 years ago, so I guess it will be a lot of stories told again
Good inspirational take on the prompt, Bjorn. I like the combination of everything in the shot to make it into a story. Great one!
This reminds me of a haibun. Such devastation and sorrow in your wonderful poem.
janet
Very moving … Could not have been written better.
Dear Bjorn, I will never forget watching the tsunami on TV and how it just moved across the Japanese landscape and how horrific it was. Wow – you did a good job with verse! Thanks – be careful in the midwest, we’re having storms! Nan 🙂
A fitting reminder of that dreadful time.
Very moving. I like the image of a “water-grinder”.
Your poem shows that you can feel the ache in other people’s souls.
As soon as I read ‘the warmth of sand between your toes’ I dreaded what was to come. Beautiful and touching story, Bjorn.
Dear Björn,
A wistful tale and lovely tribute.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Dear Bjorn,
Have you seen the movie, The Impossible? Your poem reminded me of it and of the lost souls flickering in the night. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
loved your poetic approach this week Bjorn !
So sad and yet so beautiful. You have a way of portraying loss with elegance and grace.
A hymn to all those affected.
Astounding work with capturing the devastation, one I could never imagine enduring. Wonderful work.
One of your more lovely poems, darling. Say hello to California for me.
Beautiful and well constructed, Bjorn. Carrying the candlelight from beginning to end – mutes the glare.
Safe and happy travels,
Ellespeth
This is so sad. Beautiful poem – I bet those affected by the tsunami would enjoy it as well.
Both tender and ;powerful at the same time. It takes a huge event and makes it very personal, as it was for those most impacted. The candlelight throughout is beautiful and a reminder that death does not extinguish every flame.
a great tribute. I really loved the last line.
A poetic reminder, a wonderful memorial! Have fun with family in Sweden!
Greetings from Greece!
Maria (MM Jaye)
Super tribute, Bjorn. A good reminder of the ephemeral quality of life as well.
So moving, Bjorn and a wonderful tribute.
mournful and very moving. a great tribute, Björn… and great choice of words.
I didn’t know anyone caught in the tsunami either, but I saw some harrowing video footage. My heart goes out to them, too.
Very poignant. I think it good to be reminded of tragedies. Life is a gift that can be rescinded at any moment.
great tribute Björn.. Life is so unpredictable and sad at times…
This is so well-done, Bjorn — so moving. I like the way you take the reader from the over-all, large-scale loss to the individual, single-soul suffering.
Beautifully done Björn. Our friends were lucky as someone managed to hold on to their son as he was being swept away and stopped him from becoming another victim.
I like how you wrote this in verse. I think you were able to catch this person’s sense of loss and suffering beautifully. Life can be unexpectedly tragic sometimes, and unfair.
always love the way your words just flow so beautifully even though this is a sad moment in history. very honorable piece.
Interesting, Hokusai’s work brings so many emotions to the surface, for me he brings Mount fuji first, but that was the first pieces of this art i knew.
Fine lines. Enormously moving.
Where I live now, this hits hard and close to home. The ‘refugee’ village to the north is still far too populated, the animal shelters are overrun, and the hearts of those displaced still ache and brake brittle.
From Fukushima to Indonesia, the pain is eerily similar. Well done.
Bjorn,
You’ve served up a sad tale this week. Tsunami stories work well with this prompt.
All my best,
Marie Gail
Beautiful.