Be A Diamond, Not A Talc (Poem dedicated to the victims of the Philippines' Typhoon Haiyan)'

Be a Diamond, Not Talc

A fierce vortex may carry a roof away.

A gigantic earth fault will clash and clutter the walls.

A sliding slope will drag houses down like a waterfall.

An extreme army of wind and rain will drown the innocent beings.

A furious conflagration might incinerate the mortals' fragile skin.

A flowing ribbon of lava will engulf a tree's beauty.

Yet we are still alive.

Who knows when a plane will crash against a skyscraper?

Who knows when a ship will overturn in the deep cold blue?

Who knows when a bus will skid towards a train?

Who knows when a young lad will get shot?

Who knows when death is cursed on a loved one?

Yet we are still alive.

We may live in a world weaved with catastrophes.

Poverty and prostitution still do exist.

One innocent mind will be harmed one day

by the awakening of reality’s rage.

Yet have no fear

that when faith knocks on your door,

Not even grenades of disaster will crash onto you.

We may lose our current plans.

Our shelters, together with our belongings

may be destroyed and no longer in use.

We may be devastated

to see earth turned to deadly black,

yet there is one tiny spark hidden beneath the soil

that will soon grows and glows with great glory,

a luminescence that will revive our hearts.

Dear people,

don't be a sectile, bendable talc.

Your heart may be twisted like its rubber-like body.

Your spirits may be shattered like its weak bonds.

Your soul may be torn like its easily-scratched surface.

But

do remember the spark that will illuminate

right before your eyes. 

It will help to rekindle your heart,

like a flame of hope that ignites in brilliant warmth.

Let the flame in you ablaze with wondrous power.

Let's stand up from the debris left on the ground

and lay hands on one another's shriveled wings.

Let's be diamonds that conquer misery,

strong and resistant.

Its surface cannot be damaged

but reflecting beams of bright silver

that an enemy's eyes be blinded. 

Don't let hypocrisy and sarcasm overcome your thoughts!

Get up on your feet now!

Fix the cracks and ruins

to create a renewed world. 

Keep in mind that you are not engulfed in isolation

for we hold you in our prayers

and God will lend you his mercy and grace.

So open your eyes now.

Be a diamond,

not talc.