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The Splintered Face: Tsunami Poems

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Indran Amirthanayagam grew up with poetry. The son of a Sri Lankan diplomat, he begins his book with a poem his father wrote, a poem that touches on the dichotomy in nature: of beauty and harshness. Though much of the world watched the aftermath of the tsunami in horror from their televisions, Amirthanayagam felt his own personal tragedy in hearing the stories of destruction in his birthplace. The sorrow that was left in the wake of this 2004 event shattered countries, communities, families, individuals. In this book of poetry, Amirthanayagam presents not only those voices, but his own resonant voice, in an effort to heal from this tragedy. He is meticulous in word choice and line breaks. The images he uses are lyrical, concise. Even if you have never been to Sri Lanka, you are transported to an island that leaves you hungry for more. To know this culture that sits down by the waterside to eat "mangoes and pittu, a spicy /poll sambol." The final poem, "Coming Together," unites his readers in the global goal of healing. Though the tsunami has long left the headlines, there is a continued need for support and rebuilding. Amirthanayagam generously promises to donate a portion of proceeds to tsunami relief. If you purchase one book of poetry this year, let it be The Splintered Face.