After the Earth Tremor
Strange to think of the earth slipping,
lurching from its moorings,
a side-ways rock
or a lower rumble.
And all that I thought
was strong,
all that I thought I knew
is slipping too.
Like a table-cloth whipped away
and the plates and cutlery
still in place.
And you still there
- rocking slightly but still there.
Smiling when I say
I thought you'd gone.
lurching from its moorings,
a side-ways rock
or a lower rumble.
And all that I thought
was strong,
all that I thought I knew
is slipping too.
Like a table-cloth whipped away
and the plates and cutlery
still in place.
And you still there
- rocking slightly but still there.
Smiling when I say
I thought you'd gone.
posted by Clare Dudman at 3:38 am
4 Comments:
Great to see these words it shook out of you. That table cloth image is fantastic.
I read about the tremor this morning - didn't feel it, thankfully. I really dont think I would like that! I'm a person who likes stability in my surroundings, if only to allow me to wobble wildly!
Clare,
Lovely poem in response.
I have only once, in memory experienced a seismic event when I was in my 20s. I thought it was thrilling and I wasn't in the least afraid.
Here in Australia, all the volcanos are extinct (it's an ancient continent) and we only have mild earthquakes if at all. Though Newcastle in New South Wales was badly damaged by a 5.6 category earthquake in 1989.
The suburb where I live is built on the centre of an extinct volcano. The ground underneath the buildings in this area is cluttered with giant rocks, and the earth moves according to the weather. In summer, when it's dry, doors go out of kilter and resettle when the autumn rains come.
Nicely done, Clare.
Thank you Jem! Stability in a wobbly world - I like it!
And Anne, that is so kind, thank you for that too. I am fascinated by the idea of your extinct volcano and the earth shifting according to the weather. We think of the ground as something dependable. It is a shock to find that it's not.
Thanks MinX!
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