He feels a breeze
A cold hand grasps his heart
Thrown back into a different time
A moment tattooed on his thoughts
A vivid memory; hands above the water
Trying to find something to clench on
Floated away with the stream into their deaths
He couldn't save them
60+ years passed him by
Back to 1953

Witnessing a tragedy, footnote in history
Ploughing water, reaping wind
It changed the man, it changed the land

The storm came from the north west
Combined with spring tide the water broke through
The water bashed on and on, flooding the lands
People sought refuge in their attic or on their roof
Walls couldn't stand the pressure, houses collapsed
Doubling the number of casualties

Buried and drowned

Witnessing a tragedy, footnote in history
Ploughing water, reaping winds
Changed the man, changed the land

I struggle and emerge
We cross that bridge and arise
Defining moments, defining people
Survive a disaster, struggle and emerge

Witnessing a tragedy, footnote in history
Ploughing water, reaping wind
It changed the man, it changed the land
Re-living catastrophe, anchored eternally
Lost some lives and saved a few
Live long struggle guaranteed