Tsunami

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Driving north to their house      Pahn                  
and his family       with Lakhehsis
  the road
becomes unfamiliar                                         
narrow                 
and little used

Soon they are skirting                        
the coast
                                        high above the breakers
He is wondering       without a rail            
                                             as the pavement dips
if they will stay on the road

They reach the beach       and                                  
a hint of recognition           

“We’ve been here before”

Pahn says to Aiks                                          

“There is the tree
Under whose shade we sat”

They swim out into the calm water                          
over the protective sand bar                         
into the swells                                    
which begin to rise                

Pahn worries as a large wave comes                          
if it is too big for the children                         
and so they swim back in                     
to the coastal house               

where they straighten up                         
with Lakhehsis                             

Getting ready to leave                                                   
Pahn walks outside                                              
where people stare                              
concerned into the horizon

and talk of a tsunami
        no one knows how big
 
                                It is rising beyond the sand
 
                                                      wind pulling
 
                                                                 spray

Pahn starts for high ground
but stops
            and returns to help his family
 
           He runs into the house
               telling them urgently
 
                “We must go
 
                now”

But it is too late
 
                               When they get outside
 
                                                                              the wave has already arrived

falling short of the house

pulling gravel                                    
as it recedes                                           
 harmlessly                                                     

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