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| David Wethey/N(DavZPA/Associated Press |
(avid Wethey/NZPA/Assoated Press
this is the hour of wonder
a time where wait and see
and hide and seek
cease to be games
the streets are silent
wrinkled brows speak volumes
swing sets, steeples
and stomachs in knots
this is the eve of answers
with dawn comes discovery
sifting, sweeping, shifting
changes in view
everything we held
everything we believed to be
always and iron
shook loose in minutes
in pieces
Rene ~ 2011
My prayers are with the people of New Zealand and for anyone who is struggling through difficult, sudden changes and choices in their lives.
Nature shakes her numbed limbs and we can but react. Hoping powerful loving energy is available to counteract the New Zealand quake.
ReplyDelete~~~
Your words aptly address the current tide of changes in the Middle East as well. Driven by educated youth, social media and repressive economies, human nature is shaking its numbed limbs with equivalent power. The world is ever-changing.
"...everything we believed to be
ReplyDeletealways and iron
shook loose in minutes... "
And just as well or we would all be dodging and weaving our lives away!
NZ is the shaky isles and some seismic activity always expected but such disasters can happen anytime anyplace. Such loss and pain! Our hearts go out to them.
Beautiful poem ...
ReplyDeletenice...sounds like an earth shaking moment...i kinda like to have my world rocked like that...sick, i know.
ReplyDelete@Kim..Yes! Exactly what I was going for :) Our world is rapidly changing
ReplyDeletesometimes peacefully, sometimes in more unexpected violent ways
@Stafford Absolutely, everything we believe to be so permanent really isn't so much...
Ack.
ReplyDeleteYou've really evoked a feeling of chaos, uncertainty and dread here. Fine writing, and my sympathies also to the people undergoing this unexpected and difficult ordeal.
ReplyDeleteFine work, my dear. I second that, and am flying some prayer flags on the Everest of my mind.
ReplyDeleteThe earth proves over and over that she has bigger puzzle pieces than we can imagine...nice piece...bkm
ReplyDeleteThis breaks my heart. beautifully done
ReplyDeleteChildren of the Earth
ReplyDeleteWe humans- pugnacious and proud
Demand that our Mother be seen
But not loud
No peristalsis must She risk ever to show
While poisoned and disgraced
From the seeds that we sow
"Sit quietly and take it",
We expect her to yield
For the advancement of mankind
For the power we wield
For what does the Earth have
That we think we can't claim
For this selfish Reason
We tear Her and maim.
And when she kicks back
What can you say?
These ugly tectonics
Are continually at play
Who is it that runs and hides?
Who was trapped and who did cry.
When the Earth must find release
Then someone will die
How often it is that I walk in the wood
Playing my flute
Expressing the good.
This Earth has given us all that we need
When we forget to give thanks
Then children take heed.
the world does have to shake
ReplyDeleteand hearts often break
when those sweeping winds of change
turn us upside down.
A great tribute.. and my heart goes to the suffering of people there.. may there be peace ...
ReplyDeleteॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/02/whispers-tanka-and-search-for-being.html
Connect with me at Twitter @VerseEveryDay
You should consider sending this in with a news link to the earthquake to this new web site called poetry 24 see link http://poetry-24.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI have stood on that street in Christchurch, gazed up at the Cathedral spiral. A tragedy on so many levels. Your poem is a moving tribute, Rene.
ReplyDeleteDropping a penny in your cup. Thank you for that.
ReplyDelete'...everything we believed to be
ReplyDeletealways and iron
shook loose in minutes..."
This is a heartfelt work. Well done.
Poetry24…where news is the Muse
great topic for a poem...a colleague of mine was there on a business trip shortly after the earthquake and he said it was just horrible - he didn't take any photo because he just couldn't bear it
ReplyDeleteA thoughtful write and I
ReplyDeletelove this part;
"wrinkled brows speak volumes"
It is a horrible disaster.
Well said.
Pamela
Beautifully understated treatment of a subject that lends itself to hyperbole and over-writing.
ReplyDeleteoh, nicely done! Tight, and the rhythms are spot on.
ReplyDelete(that it works so well with the Magpie image of the jumbled puzzle is a bonus)
Such a tragic event. I'm so glad you have written this.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Lovely heartfelt hope for those who are experiencing loss and massive change.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you focussed on the NZ earthquake. A salutary lesson that safety is illusory, or fragile.
ReplyDeleteLoved this- Rene
ReplyDeletedespite all the pain beneath
well done and nicely written
ReplyDeleteRene - What a beautiful piece you've written here. To you very last word I am of the same mind.
ReplyDeletegrowing up in california it was always shaking..... there is nothing so unsettling as the ground beneath you swaying and the things around you falling....
ReplyDeleteReally GooD!
ReplyDeleteWell written piece in honour of a tragedy...
ReplyDeleteA sad and beautiful piece. Rene, you should submit this to Martin H's new Poetry 24 news related poetry blog.
ReplyDeleteThis was humbling, Rene.. A very thoughtful piece..
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with all those people whose lives were shattered due to this incident :(
A beautiful magpie poem, my friend..
I agree with Tess above. Also love your line at the end. my heart goes out too.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteAnd Martin's Poetry 24 site only accepts "unpublished" work. That would include something put up on your blog as well.
Wonderful poem. I noticed the touch of hope too, something like HD'a 'inspiration stalks us through gloom'
ReplyDeleteNature has her ways... and we need to play by them...
ReplyDeleteThis was a lovely dedication piece, Rene..
My prayers are with the people affected by this devastating disaster... I hope their mornings after change for the better.. and soon...
Thanks for this beautiful and thoughtful magpie, my friend..
Answering the prompt with this profound piece on the tragedy at Christchurch was inspired. Thank you for responding in this way, as it's not only topical, but beautifully, if tragically, stated.
ReplyDeleteAmy Barlow Liberatore
http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/safe-havens-wwp/
That was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNice poem. I especially like 'always and iron.' Have friends in Littleton. They were traveling during the quake and got home two days later to find not much damage. Fortunate as some of their neighbors' homes were demolished. They did find two new rocks in their garden though, shaken loose and rolled down the hill, each one the size of a Buick. Scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt takes such a little time to shake the world apart. Well written.
ReplyDelete