Anxiety Poem by Andrew W.K. Yip

Spires of death - dark deadly smoke billowing high,
Rising above the scotched earth and vegetation.
Black clouds of thunder rampaged across the sombre sky,
A grim spectre of putrefaction and destruction.

A flash of lightning stabbed savagely through the heavy haze.
The ground shuddered and shook, roaring with shouts of pain.
Muffled moans and groans grasped and grappled in a daze.
Dreadful tears - a raging rushing gush gullying like angry rain.

As the leaves and plants quivered in sorrow and fright,
Animals alarmed and panic-stricken, shrieked in sheer terror.
Three helpless horrified boys cried through the hopeless night.
Anxiety filled their woeful eyes and they stared in stark horror.

In that moment of fear and panic,
Three pure hearts turned to pray to God,
And in that sudden moment of brilliant magic,
His name was raised; all anxiety erased with just a nod.



(The background to the poetry and the photograph of the same name is the volcanic eruption in Bali - Mount Agung, Indonesia in 1963 - Death 1,184.) Photo Awards: Diploma 'Outstanding Achievement in Photography' Dorbim, Austria on 10 October,1965, Certificate of Merit: Bournemouth, UK,1964 copyright: Yip Cheong Fun.