Writing, drawing and painting were some of the coping mechanisms children developed after being traumatized by the tsunami. Stefan Teplan collected some of their works (see also the story “The Young Girl And The Sea” in this blog).
FROM LOVE TO HATE
I loved the dancing waves
But they came as a tsunami
I loved the blowing breeze
But it came as a storm
I loved the fertile earth
But it came as an earthquake
From that time on
My love turned into hate
M. Anandakala , Nagapattinam, 13 years old
OH MY SEA
Oh my sea, you became my nightmare!
Can’t you have as much mercy
As much as you have salt?
How could you destroy us
While we were playing at your shores?
We were born as your children
Is that the sin we committed?
You gave life to the fishes in your water
But why did you destroy the lives
Of the children at your shores?
Please allow us to live hereafter!
Shamila, Nagapattinam, 15 years old
MY DEAR OCEAN
If feelings could be words
I would be able to tell you
My dear ocean
How much I loved you!
How many times I came to play with you
Even without getting permission.
I cried for the beatings I got.
You made only me cry that day.
But today you made thousands of people cry
Taking away their houses, belongings, kith and kin
You have deserted us!
You, the sustainer of our lives, have taken away our lives.
So I hate you!
I hate you so much!
Yet, I want to thank you, tsunami!
You know why?
You brought so many people to take part in my life.
So many people whom I had never seen before or even dreamt about
Helped us to rebuild our lives.
For this I thank you, tsunami!
Now I am not angry with you.
I love you, my dear ocean!
Kokila, Tarangambadi, 13 years old
Copyright for all words, translations and photography: Stefan Teplan
