Echoes of Chennai
Chennai, India
2024, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
Chennai, Oh Chennai
Where did her laughter go?
Her skies weep endlessly,
Once a playful kiss,
The salty stings were.
Now a relentless, angry hiss.
Once friends in joyful dance,
The waves were.
Now they crash and swallow in a trance.
Homes turned into boats,
Hearts turned to hope.
With fear residing inside,
Fear of the dawn,
Fear of what we lost,
Fear of the fury of the Monsoon.
Relentless rains we witnessed,
Relentlessly we struggled
To survive life,
Survive this downpour.
2015, the year our city submerged,
Hearts were tight,
Hands were clutched.
With eyes glistening,
We watched
Our homes, our refuge, being swept in a watery roar.
Cherished memories soaked,
Our futures blurred in the night.
The terror in our brethren’s eyes,
Clutching each other’s hands,
As waters rose high,
Still haunts me today.
Neighbours cried,
The city sighed.
Yet, in those darkest of hours,
We learned to fly.
Holding hands, we formed bridges,
Holding hands, we saved each other.
Melodious were the monsoons,
Peacocks we once were, dancing in the rain.
Now a chaotic symphony,
Evoking a Rudra Tandava (1) in her people.
Even in the storm’s loud bellow,
The roar of the people is heard.
A flicker of hope we fight to store,
To heal our city,
To set things right.
Chennai, Oh Chennai
We will rise anew
Together, hand in hand, we’ll see this struggle through.
Every tear that drops is a vow made,
To forge a brighter, hopeful parade.
(1) Rudra Tandava refers to a ferocious dance undertaken by the Hindu God Shiva. It signifies the release of suppressed anger. It symbolises destruction and the subsequent creation. It represents the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution. In this poem, it refers to the destructive powers/impact of the climate change in Chennai and at the same time, it also refers to the powerful, vigorous response of the people to rebuild and restore their city.
Reflection
Reflection
“Echoes of Chennai” was inspired by my experiences with the tropical cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal. Every year, without fail, during the months of November and December, Chennai witnesses heavy cyclones and ensuing floods. Rising sea temperatures due to climate change have increased the frequency and intensity of these cyclones causing significant destruction in their wake. Days and weeks of power outages, inability to attend schools, difficulty obtaining food and other necessities and lack of drinking water plagued the city. Some were privileged enough to have a roof over their heads, while others lost their homes to the floods. These people struggled to survive on the streets with no shelter or food. Witnessing this impacted me deeply. This poem is a reflection of my emotions visually presented through words. The paradox of the monsoon, with its beauty and potential for destruction - how it all blurs into a fine line, inspired me to write this poem. I wrote this poem to spread awareness about climate change, emphasising the need to maintain the balance with nature. Even a slight imbalance can cause havoc. It is our responsibility as future leaders to ensure we uphold this balance. My message to viewers is one of urgency and hope. What I spoke about was what happened in my country, my state, my city. I could put another name, another country to the same problem. I urge the youth to address climate change, an urgent global issue. Through my poem, I wish to highlight the severe impacts of climate change on our communities, like the devastating floods and cyclones in Chennai, while also showcasing the strength and resilience of our people. We can no longer ignore the climate crisis. We must all take responsibility and collective action. Every small step can make a huge difference. Together, we can create a more resilient and sustainable future for generations to come.