Earth Rage
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber
As a poet whose poetry is archived by the British Library and elsewhere, I try to record major events - including natural disasters - around the world for future reference. Sadly, I have to be selective, but try to write about the worst, especially those that have affected me deeply and cried out for a poem. I often revert to the villanelle form - as I do here - and can but hope readers will find it effective.
Although these poems are archival now, they serve as reminders all that climate change is no new phenomenon; nature has been sending out warning signals for years. More we should never forget the impact natural disasters have on families and communities around the world; it is not enough to blame nature, humankind needs to accept its own share of blame and take appropriate action before it is too late for any of us
On March 11th 2011 an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale struck the north-eastern coast of Japan. Although Tokyo is some 200+ miles from the epicentre, it some suffered some damage if incomparable with the utter devastation a Tsunami that quickly followed left in its wake further along the coast. Shocking, live TV coverage inspired the poem.
As a poet whose poetry is archived by the British Library and elsewhere, I try to record major events - including natural disasters - around the world for future reference. Sadly, I have to be selective, but try to write about the worst, especially those that have affected me deeply and cried out for a poem. I often revert to the villanelle form - as I do here - and can but hope readers will find it effective.
Although these poems are archival now, they serve as reminders all that climate change is no new phenomenon; nature has been sending out warning signals for years. More we should never forget the impact natural disasters have on families and communities around the world; it is not enough to blame nature, humankind needs to accept its own share of blame and take appropriate action before it is too late for any of us
On March 11th 2011 an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale struck the north-eastern coast of Japan. Although Tokyo is some 200+ miles from the epicentre, it some suffered some damage if incomparable with the utter devastation a Tsunami that quickly followed left in its wake further along the coast. Shocking, live TV coverage inspired the poem.
EARTH RAGE
Nature raging, run amok,
tsunami taking its toll;
Tokyo's reeling in shock
Japan having to take stock
of losses stark and cruel;
nature raging, run amok
Ground rolling, hear it crack,
folks wrestling self-control;
Tokyo's reeling in shock
Across islands of the Pacific,
find fear draping its pall,
nature raging, run amok
As its stunned surrounds rock,
the good earth making a kill,
Tokyo's reeling in shock
Humanity taken a cruel knock,
nor all its wounds soon heal;
nature raging, run amok,
Tokyo's reeling in shock
[London; March 11th 2011]
Copyright R. N. Taber
Nature raging, run amok,
tsunami taking its toll;
Tokyo's reeling in shock
Japan having to take stock
of losses stark and cruel;
nature raging, run amok
Ground rolling, hear it crack,
folks wrestling self-control;
Tokyo's reeling in shock
Across islands of the Pacific,
find fear draping its pall,
nature raging, run amok
As its stunned surrounds rock,
the good earth making a kill,
Tokyo's reeling in shock
Humanity taken a cruel knock,
nor all its wounds soon heal;
nature raging, run amok,
Tokyo's reeling in shock
[London; March 11th 2011]
Copyright R. N. Taber
Labels: air, change, climate, culture, global, Green, human, humanity, issues, Japan, nature, poetry, pollution, religion, responsibility, social, society, thinking survival, warming
posted by R. N. Taber | 08:57
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