Poets logo
Content warning
This story may contain sensitive material or discuss topics that some readers may find distressing. Reader discretion is advised. The views and opinions expressed in this story are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Vocal.

Tsunami

A moment of silence while chaos reigned

By Dana CrandellPublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 1 min read
Tsunami
Photo by Austin Schmid on Unsplash

Staring, transfixed, as the horror unfolded,

Incapable of averting unbelieving eyes.

Lives changed forever and violently

Ended, half a world away, yet

Near as the television screen.

Chaos and carnage roared as we watched, in

Earsplitting silence.

***

Author's Note: I thought I'd published my last entry for this challenge, but as the clock ticked down, this one just kinda' came to me. I vividly remember watching this happen in 2011 without a word, while thinking, "When is it going to stop?"

3/11 and 9/11 had more profound global impact, I think, because of worldwide "live coverage," a term that somehow has an eerie ring in this case.

heartbreaksad poetry

About the Creator

Dana Crandell

Dad, Stepdad, Grandpa, Husband, lover of Nature and dogs.

Poet, Writer, Editor, Photographer, Artist

My poetry collection: Life, Love & Ludicrosity

Facebook

The Upland Soul

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

  2. Easy to read and follow

    Well-structured & engaging content

  3. Expert insights and opinions

    Arguments were carefully researched and presented

  1. Eye opening

    Niche topic & fresh perspectives

  2. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

  3. Masterful proofreading

    Zero grammar & spelling mistakes

  4. On-point and relevant

    Writing reflected the title & theme

Add your insights

Comments (14)

Sign in to comment
  • Test2 years ago

    A profound moment of ear-ringing silence indeed! Smart piece here Dana!

  • 𝐑𝐌𝐒2 years ago

    What a great entry for the Challenge, Dana, and a powerful reminder of one of those tragic events burned into our memories with deep emotion. Well done!

  • D.K. Shepard2 years ago

    Another powerful entry, Dana! A very fitting source of silence and tragedy for such an acrostic

  • Lana V Lynx2 years ago

    So powerful, Dana, and the tsunami metaphor is mighty.

  • JBaz2 years ago

    I'm glad you manged one more

  • Andrea Corwin 2 years ago

    Great job - that ww 24/7 coverage wears us all down.

  • Shirley Belk2 years ago

    A Tsunami Gives makes the term, force of nature almost irreverent...great job on your poem.

  • Tina D'Angelo2 years ago

    I also watched in horror, thinking it had to be somekind of movie plot. It went on and on and on, and yes, the moment of silence before the waves was eerie!

  • Heather Hubler2 years ago

    It was so surreal to watch the tragedy unfold. Really brought me there with this piece. Well done :)

  • Babs Iverson2 years ago

    Poignantly penned!!!

  • Hannah Moore2 years ago

    Yeah. I remember that. Horrific. Well done.

  • Kristen Balyeat2 years ago

    That was terrifying to watch. Still have the images burned in my brain. You did a brilliant job with this unique take on the challenge, Dana!

  • Paul Stewart2 years ago

    Heartbreaking, but penned so masterfully. I remember it well too!

  • Cathy holmes2 years ago

    Oh yes. I remember that well. Such a tragedy.

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.