For Mima - When I was in HK in 1998 I went out with a girl called Mima. I spoke with my old boss from that time yesterday and it tutns out she was killed in the 2004 Tsunami. All these years I have assumed she was making her life in indonesia as I was making mine in the UK....this one is for her.

You died five years ago, I knew not till today

I watched the boiling waters, saw the news there on TV

I made the expected noises but it's all so far from me.

You must have fought for life, how long? I will not know,

I ate the turkey leftovers, gave the dice their post lunch throw.

I got indigestion, we all went to walk it off,

I have the photo of that day, us warm, happy, alive

You got drowning, fearful death on the shore among the trees.

I don't know how life went for you since the day when last we spoke.

Did you marry, did you love, did you sometimes think of me?

I hope you lived a lifetime in the years from then till then, took every moment, every hour to live, and live and live.

And yet I fear you didn't did you? death found you all full up,

With hopes and dreams and certainties of a future full of years.

One phone call and my memory of that day has changed,

Three hundred thousand faceless dead. And you.