Remembering the Earthquake 2009
12 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
By Rizka Pramadita
I fell asleep on my sajada after making Fajr today.
My soul followed a course of marbled path in a sacred garden.One door is open.
Bright, blinding light.
I stepped inside.A room packed with humid condolences, walls full with sobbing, tears thick as a soup.
A picture of a sweet little girl perched at the center.
I stood there gazing at the mourning crowd, wondering.
Is there anything I should know about?Suddenly I was alone,
Alone in my selfhood.
And I was waiting for something to come.
I had with me a small mirror.
There are wrinkles on the reflection,
Wrinkles that tell tales.
Each was attached to this and that.My work, my education, my family, my dreams and ambitions.
Convivial trail of such temporary attributes.What good does it all do when I’m in a place like this?
Alone with my selfhood.I looked up,
Clear blue sky is clear.
Wide spotless roof,
A simple emptiness.My eyes blinked and I could barely breathe,
Big chunks of what was once a beautiful school,
Now rubbles.
My eyes blinked and it’s just impossible to breathe,
The sweet little girl yet to be found is here,
Chest sandwiched by bricks, arms and spine broken by the overwhelming weight.
Her hand reached out to me, but mine was never seemed long enough to reach her.
And everytime I try harder, the more I was sent away.I woke up.
Gasping. Panting.
Sweat drops.I know I’m waiting,
Like my sweet little girl.
Waiting for my turn to return.
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May Allah has mercy on thousands of victims of the 2009 Earthquake who were mostly children studying in their kindergartens and elementary schools.
May Allah guide us the knowledge to know which is the matters of the hereafter (ukhrawiyah) and which is of the present world (dunyawiyyah). May Allah give us the strength to strive for the sa’adah (everlasting felicity and bliss) and avoid the shaqawah (great misfortune and misery). Amin.
Bukittinggi Earthquake 2009
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