Tears Under the Gray Sky of West Sumatra
By Leni Marlina*
Beneath the somber sky so gray,
Our homes turned dust in dismay,
Mount Merapi's cries echo fear,
In the night, our cries disappear.
Ash clouds veil our desperate sight,
Hope fled as nature took its flight,
Floods claimed all we called our own,
Lost fields, lost dreams, all alone.
In restless nights, silence abides,
Joy's whispers no longer reside,
Nature's wrath, a mystery untold,
Left alone in a world so cold.
Cold lahar, a relentless force,
Threatening villages on its course,
Disasters strike without a sigh,
South Coast, Sawahlunto, we cry.
The once-lovely Anai Valley weep,
Agam, Tanah Datar's sorrow deep,
Floods, landslides, a heavy toll,
Our land, our home, takes its toll.
Paths closed, trapped in worry's might,
Sitinjau Lauik's slopes in fright,
Lolo Surian, Kelok Sembilan's cry,
Tiku, Maninjau, tears in the sky.
Children's hearts with sorrow laden,
Where have our parents all strayed?
Prayers rise for a brighter morn,
May peace embrace them, souls adorn.
With hearts united, one plea we share,
Rising from grief, a hopeful prayer,
Facing the future with strength untold,
In God's arms, relief takes hold.
----------
Padang, May 15th, 2024
