Thrishana Pothupitiya's Poem: ' Tsunami You Hit My Island Home.'

17 year old Thrishana Pothupitiya studying at Bishop's College Colombo was one of the first Sri Lankan teenagers to put pen to paper and write about the tsunami which struck the land of her birth.Her essay 'The Power of Humanity' was published in the Daily News in Colombo. The British Red Cross said she wrote powerfully and eloquently'about the tsunami which devastated parts of Sri Lanka on 26th December 2004. Her essay is now being used as an educational resource around the world. International charities, working in the tsanimi disaster areas in Sri Lanka, have highlighted her essay.

Former US President, Bill Clinton recently wrote to the young student. President Clinton is due back on a return visit to Sri Lanka in a few months time. Thrishana Pothupitiya has also written a poem - soon to be published in an international book of poetry - about the tsunami and the spirit of hope dwelling in the hearts and minds of the people of the island.


TSUNAMI YOU HIT MY ISLAND HOME


The day was clear

The sun shone bright

Upon my island home

When all at once wailing, echoed from her shores.



And it came whirling, swirling, churning and sweeping

A monstrous twenty-foot wave

With a booming voice and mighty hurt

Destroying everything in its way.



For hours the waves swept in

Devastating her shores

Countless people lost their lives

From countless faces hot tears poured.



It came so fast in swirling rage

No time to think, to save themselves

The waves so high swept above their heads

And swept back with their lives.



A heart felt cry echoed throughout

Our beautiful island home.

The whirling sea swept of the smiles

From Sri Lanka’s livelihood.



Father and mother grieving

For their loving children lost.

Little children searching everywhere,

Searching for their parents lost.



A grieving father stands by the sea

His dead son in his arms

His agony spread throughout the land

And touched every man’s heart.



The waves destroyed many homes,

It swept off many lives.

But through this pain and sorrow

Our people began to rise.



From far away people came

To lend a helping hand

Humanity poured through the veins

Of every man and child.



The Tsunami which hit our land

On “Uduwap” poya day

Has freed us from ourselves

Has shown us the correct way.



Together all of Sri Lanka

Should get over this ordeal

Every one working together

Regardless of nationality colour and creed.



The waves shattered Sri Lanka

Yet humanity it could not break.

Compassion, love and kindness reached out to all,

And gave hope in every way.



Oh Tsunami you hit us

Expecting us to fall.

But we will rise stronger,

Much better than before.