Although the great earthquake of February 27, 2010 did minimal damage to the city of Santiago, this event is still a significant memory of Chileans I met. In conversation, it was common for people to bring up stories of their experiences during the terremoto. While the event was still dramatic for residents of inland Santiago, this did not compare to the double-whammy that hit some coastal regions—a tsunami was also triggered by the earthquake. Over 500 people died and about 370,000 homes were damaged (sources: 1, 2)
In the coastal city of Valparaíso I found this card from a photo exhibit of post-earthquake images. The artist paired various photos with pieces of literature or poetry to each scene. This was my favorite because it uses a few simple words to convey a powerful image. It also translates nicely into English.
La tierra se estremece,
El mar se desborda.
El hombre muere y vulnerable sobrevive.
La realidad no cabe dentro de un pensamiento.
Desde el dolor de una fisura,
Se reconstruye una figura.
El nuevo sentido es conciencia de un nuevo pensamiento.
La tierra se aquieta,
El mar respira.
El hombre muere y vulnerable sobrevive.
The earth trembles,
The sea overflows.
A man dies and vulnerable survive.
The reality does not fit within a thought.
From the pain of a fissure,
A figure is reconstructed.
The new sense is consciousness of a new thought.
The earth is stilled,
The sea breaths.
A man dies and vulnerable survive.
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