Jishin

Mountains fell
And filled the rivers.

The seas heaved
And flooded the land.

Boats along the shore
Were helpless in the waves.

Around the capital
Not one temple or pagoda
remained intact.

Dust and ashes rose
Like billows of smoke.

Caught inside
A house might crush you.

Outside, the ground was torn apart.

Without wings,
You could not fly away.
Only a dragon
may ride the clouds!

For a while right after
There was talk
of the vanities of this world,
and people seemd to be rid
of the sinfulness in their hearts.

But days and months went by,
then years,
and no one spoke of it again.

excerpted from the HOJOKI (Account of My Hut)
by Kamo Chomei, 1212 AD