PHOTO PROMPT © Carla Bicomong
The water was glassy calm, nothing like the tsunami that had boiled it into a wall of fury.
Hundreds of people were there. Most had a candle to set afloat. Some were looky-loos, snapping photos of grief gleefully.
It had been a year to the day that the tsunami had come roaring into the bay, taking so many by surprise; swallowing people up like a whale swallows krill. Many had tried to escape to the highest hills, but the water overtook them.
Houses disappeared. Cars and boats turned into scrap metal and toothpicks.
The dead were not forgotten.
Just Writing! 
Nice message and nice angle. Did not think this way.
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What I love about FF is that one picture triggers so many different ideas 🙂
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True. We see the same thing differently.
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The image “wallowing people up like a whale swallows krill” is great
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Thank you 🙂
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I enjoyed how you built this story, even using looks-loos, a term I have never come across but which suited the prompt well.
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American slang 🙂 Thanks very much, Michael.
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I’ve learned a new word with looky-loos. You describe the devastation of a tsunami so well.
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You’re the second person to say that. American slang, I think. And thank you 🙂
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It’s a good word, describes these people perfectly.
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Looky-loos is so common among Americans. I love how FF introduces new words.
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A lovely way to remember those that passed on.
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The unstoppable force of nature. Lovely writing.
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Moving story. I liked the line about the whale and krill.
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That seems to have gone over quite well. It just seemed to be a good comparison 🙂
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Poignant story and very well written. You describe those scenes so well, the day of destruction and the day of remembrance too
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Thanks, Lynn. I’ve never seen a tsunami except on a video. Terrifying, though.
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I remember watching the footage of the one in 2004 – just terrifying, as you say, and utterly heartbreaking, seeing all of those people and imagining what they were thinking as that wave came closer. You conveyed it well
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Thanks, Lynn. To me, it’s just inconceivable. I grew up mainly in the Midwest here in the States, too far away from an ocean to really have any idea of the vastness and the power.
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Inconceivable to me too. You wrote this so well
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Indeed- not forgotten. I like the idea of this ceremony performed by several people- reminding us that each feel the same pain. A lovely write.
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Thank you, Vivian.
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This reminds me of a youtube video of a real tsunami that I once watched,
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That’s the only kind of tsunami I’ve ever seen–on a video. Terrifying, nonetheless.
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The shallowness of the looky-looks next to the grief, pain and destruction of a tsunami–great contrast.
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iPhones have made it possible for everyone to be a videographer. Too bad they don’t come with instructions on how not to intrude on someone else’s grief.
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Ditto that.
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Catastrophic.. but life goes on, people live in our memories. Touching tale
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Thank you, Akshata 🙂
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We watched a TV programme this week which consisted of ordinary people’s videos of the Japanese tsunami. You bring another aspect vividly to life.
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Thanks for reading, appreciate your comment.
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Lovely story. I like the sentence about the “looky-loos” – very typical of some people these days.
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It is, isn’t it? We seem to thrive on watching other people’s troubles, like a reality TV program. Which I never, ever watch!
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Me neither. Mindless pap full of ego-maniacs.
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Touching story. The tsunami was really unlike anything anyone would have ever seen.
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Yes. Watching the news videos was overwhelming.
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Beautifully told and a wonderful closing sentence.
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Thanks, Jilly.
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Beautiful metaphors in your story, Linda. Excellent take on the photo prompt!
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Dear Linda,
Looky-loos is a new one for me. Touching story, beautifully written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. Actually, I think the first time I heard that word was from Ellen DeGeneres 🙂
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I like the way you’ve constructed this, using the contrast between the water of the tsunami boiling in and the glassy sea on the anniversary to give power to your narrative. There’s some good descriptive writing, too. I liked the boats becoming toothpicks.
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Thanks, Penny. I always appreciate your editorial observations 🙂
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Well done, Linda. Those tsunamis are a frightful thing and the dead should not be forgotten…your descriptions are wonderful.
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Beautiful story of remembrance. The images are lovely, particularly the whale and the toothpicks.
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Thanks, Jennifer.
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Like Lynn, I remember watching the footage of a tsunami on television. It made my stomach churn with grief. You did an excellent job describing the horror and sadness.
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Thanks so much, Russell. It’s always good to try to step into someone else’s shoes now and then.
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Oh, you captured the tragedy of a tsunami very well. Kudos
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Thanks, Alicia 🙂
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sometimes tragedy comes at the time you least expect. such is life.
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Thanks so much, Russell. It’s always good to try to step into someone else’s shoes now and then.
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The dead are certainly not forgotten. Yours is quite a different take on the prompt, and executed well!
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Thank you, Fatima.
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A lovely tribute and wonderful description: swallowing people up like a whale swallows krill. Sad and uplifting too, in that they dead are not forgotten.
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Thank you, Sarah.
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Indeed, they are not forgotten… nor is my dear friend Mitsuyo… Wonderful story that gives much honor to the lives lost.
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That kind of devastation is so hard to wrap our minds around.
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Yes, it is. Sigh… reminds of what’s truly valuable in life, though. Sadly, we have to be continually reminded.
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Powerful stuff, and still incredibly poignant. Bloody Grief tourists too, thats a clever touch
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Thanks so much 🙂
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It’s lovely how you’ve captured a community coming together to remember a shared loss.
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Great imagery and a new word. Wonderful read.
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A poignant story with powerful imagery. This is also the first time I’ve encountered the word ‘looky-loos”. In the digital age, it’s become easier than ever to be voyeurs of others’ misery.
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Brilliant message.
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Thank you.
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“Some were looky-loos, snapping photos of grief gleefully.” This line hits so close to home. A very touching tale.
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Thanks, Piyali 🙂
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“snapping photos of grief gleefully”
Schadenfreude is comment in today’s social media. A touching story of those who came to mourn.
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I love how you told so much in so few words.
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Thanks, Dawn 🙂
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