A Poet's Blog: Roger N.Taber shares his thoughts & poems...

Thoughts and observations by English poet Roger N. Taber, a retired librarian and poet-novelist.- "Ethnicity, Religion, Gender, Sexuality ... these are but parts of a whole. It is the whole that counts." RNT [NB While I have no wish to create a social network, I will always reply to critical emails about my poetry. Contact: rogertab@aol.com].

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Location: London, United Kingdom

Sadly, a bad fall in 2012 has left me with a mobility problem, and being diagnosed with prostate cancer the same year hasn't helped, but I get out and about with my trusty walking stick as much as I can, take each day as it comes and try to keep looking on the bright(er) side of life. Many of my poems reflect the need to nurture a positive-thinking mindset whatever life throws at us.

Tuesday, 7 January 2020

Floods of Fear


[UpdateFrom February to April 2019, widespread flash flooding affected large parts of Pakistan, most severely in Balochistan, KPK, Punjab, and other provinces. ... The main areas affected were Turbat, Tump, Nasirabad and Dasht where 300 people were displaced due to the flood.]
Dare I suggest climate change is not as recent a phenomenon as some people are suggesting, not to mention as many others who remain in denial.?


The 2010 Pakistan floods directly affected an estimated 14-20 million people, and killed over 1,700. Nearly 1.1 million homes were damaged or destroyed, and at least 436 health care facilities were destroyed. The floods in Pakistan began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and, Balochistan regions of Pakistan, which affected the Indus River basin.

Nature alone is not to blame. Humanity is polluting its earth, air, seas and rivers, and we need to start taking our individual responsibilities to the planet seriously before it is too late. Too many people don't even recycle waste, even where facilities are provided, and do not see it as their problem; we all need to do what we can...or it will be left to future generations to suffer the consequences and pick up whatever pieces may be left. 


Past-present-future is a continuum for which we all need to shoulder some responsibility instead of shrugging off the likes of climate change as fake news or as of no immediate personal concern to us so let other people clean up our mess...


FLOODS OF FEAR


Floods of fear confronting Pakistan,
indiscriminate, rich and poor;
terrorism no less a threat than rain

Now and then, the worst monsoon
breaks down the strongest door;
floods of fear confronting Pakistan

Pain and grief as the world looks on
(some say could, should do more);
terrorism no less a threat than rain

Those left homeless, no peace plan
for reconstructing their future;
floods of fear confronting Pakistan

Across the border with Afghanistan
some two-way trafficking for sure;
floods of fear confronting Pakistan

Aid on its way, can’t arrive too soon;
nature wreaking sickness and more;
floods of fear confronting Pakistan;
terrorism, no less a threat than rain

Copyright R. N. Taber 2010


INDUS RISING

Swathes of the Indus rising
where homes stood, crops grew,
men, women, children dying

It’s live in tents or nothing
whom the monsoon rains pursue;
swathes of the Indus rising

Millions have lost everything,
aid taking its time to filter through;
men, women, children dying

Cases of cholera spreading
like a terrorist nightmare come true;
swathes of the Indus rising

The stink of bodies floating
where nature’s wrath spares but few;
men, women, children dying

Human spirit near breaking,
yet its promises to mend ringing true;
swathes of the Indus rising;
men, women, children dying


Copyright R. N. Taber 2010


[Note: Both poems appear in Tracking the Torchbearer by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2012.]





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