Sense Sonnet - Acher

Scale of Chance

The aftermath of the earthquake
Left the living to try to cope
With the devastating heartache
Of the casualties without hope.
Rescue efforts gave way in time
To efforts in recovering
The dead. The toll - a soaring climb
In bodies and in suffering.
Only those helping on the scene
Could really sense the whole across
Of how human chance is between
Dying or living through the loss.

For miles and miles the victims spread,
Tens of thousands of bodies dead.