THE AFTERMATH of the Asian tsunami has inspired millions of people across the world to find a way to help and express their feelings.

Some have found ways of expressing their shock through writing poetry and short stories.

Shirley Hansen, 48 a senior administrator for Swindon-based firm Intel, was one of them.

The mother-of-two from Moredon has been helping out at the huge relief effort being co-ordinated at Wroughton Airfield, as well as fundraising at Intel.

She said: "When I saw the news about the devastating effects of the tsunami, it really hit me how those poor mothers who lost their children must be feeling.

"I like to get my thoughts down on paper, so hence the verse. I then thought that it may as well be seen by others too.

"I'm part of the group Intel Involved, which help in the community wherever we can. Some of us spent the weekend at Wroughton packing items for the relief effort.

"It was extremely moving to see the amount and variety of items donated."

The verse was also read out to staff at Intel at the start of an auction to remind people what the auction was all about. The event went on to raise £2,500.

Her poem, entitled Sunami, reads:

THE earth had moved and sent the wave to crash down on the land, there was no time for anyone to leave the sun bleached sand . . .

The sun was warm, the sea was cool, the waves were barely there

Children playing in the sand without a single care

The days seemed long, the nights so short and time slipped by so fast

Everyone enjoying life . . . who knew it wouldn't last?

Then came a wave so tall and wide, it seemed to hide the sky

It covered boats, then buildings as it travelled up so high

Mothers started screaming to their children in the sun

"Hurry, come to mummy" . . . but they had no time to run

Children called out to their dads to come and see the wave

But all they saw were loved ones floating to their graves

Mothers stood with empty arms and also empty hearts

Fathers frozen to the spot, their families wrenched apart

Many lives were lost that day and many hearts were torn

The world has lost so many and so many are forlorn

The world still weeps for those who died and prays for those who live

But no amount of weeping can change what the Tsunami did

People stood on broken ground of homes that once were theirs

Their faces stained with dirt and tears, they do no more than stare

We'll never fill their empty hearts or take their hurt away

They will always feel a dreadful grief resulting from that day

We cannot be so humble as to think we can make right

The tragic loss that they must feel or help them sleep at night

We shouldn't only give them cash because it makes us feel OK

But because they need our help right now . . . and it could be us one day

The earth had moved and sent the wave to crash down on the land, there was no time for anyone to leave the sun bleached sand