Tuesday Poem: “Allow Me To Say …”
Allow me to say …
Allow me to say
that in the midst
of earthshaking, plus
associated mud
and dust both inside
and out, as well
as queueing
for the portaloo —
I would like the lid
to stay on my electric
kettle so that boiling
water to safe drinking
level becomes less
of an exercise
in burned fingertips
and frustration …
This kettle, I feel,
is no good: one day
when the world
becomes safer,
I shall buy myself
a better kettle.
For now though,
I am grateful:
the god of small things
is reminding me
that I am alive.
.
© Helen Lowe, 2011
.
Note: I wish to acknowledge the allusion to Anna Livesey’s poem, “Next Time” (the moonmen, Victoria University Press, 2010) in stanza 2.
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On June 14, I talked about my wariness of the “diary entry” poem in the context of the Canterbury earthquake—and in fact any of the major “situations” we all face at some time or other in our lives, whether natural or human-made disasters, or the loss of those we are close, too. Those remarks still hold …
… Yet sometimes there is a place for the diary-entry poem and this is unashamedly one of those days and those poems—although I hope you will agree that the leaven of humour lifts “Allow me to say …” above the straightout ‘diary entry.’ I have, however, listed it under “Earthquake Reports” as well as “Poetry”, because in its own way, I feel that it is a report from the “suburban rear lines.” 😉
Enjoy! And yes, feedback welcome.
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You have a real talent for poems!
Thank you, Chelsea.
I agree with Chelsea.
It’s a little light humour in trying circumstances.
(trying is not the right word but I can’t think of a better one atm)
Jan, I think “trying” is le mot just—the other applicable adjective is “terrifying” but only under specific circumstances, ie major quakes.
It is definitely above the straightout diary entry and I love it!
Thank you ma’am!
This is really good because it addresses the everyday discomfort caused by major events. ‘EArthquake Reports’ sounds like the title of a collection! I for one, want to read more.
Kathleen, the “Earthquake Reports” are not a collection (yet anyway 😉 ) but they are the list of blog posts I’ve done on the earthquakes, especially following February 22nd and its aftermath: you can find them in the right hand side bar under the category ‘Earthquake Reports.’
Great stuff – I can totally ‘see’ it – frustrating, but you’re making the rest of us laugh even so.
Ah, my work here is done … 😀
I love it because it’s a real perspective — and the way you finish with the “god of small things” as if to tweak the nose on the face of adversity.
Thank you, Alicia: your response suggests that I have done what I set out to do, in that case.
I really liked it. It had an element of humor and a sense of a couple of the little details that have to be handled in such a situation.
Donna, Thank you for that feedback, I am so glad you liked the poem. Sometimes I think the big things are so big they’re hard to encompass in words, especially when you’re right up against them, but getting through the day to day, with a little bit of humour added in, can keep you going.
Excatly, at times things can be so overwhelming, any humor is the only things that keeps you sane.
This kettle, I feel,
is no good: one day
when the world
becomes safer,
I shall buy myself
a better kettle.
this is my favorite part. You can feel the …not sure what word to use here, sadness?…,but you sense the optimism too.
Sharon, you are quite right, it is the “heart” of the poem. It is an odd thing–a small aspect of everyday adversity and yet you notice it because the big things are ‘too’ big: the kettle, you have some control over; but conversely, it’s better to wait because with a 30% chance of another ‘big one’ before 16 July, reducing to 25% for the next 3-6 months-ish thereafter, it hardly seems sensible to race out and buy a new kettle. And yet ‘safer’ does not just allude to that, but overlaps to the larger aspects of life that may also feel ‘safer’: one day.
..you really are talented..loved this poem..
..we are like minded people..i also write poems..
..and i have a blog..you can hit it..
..keep writing.. 🙂
Thank you–I’m glad you enjoyed the poem.