Tuesday Poem: “Indifferent Planet”
Indifferent Planet
Taking out the rubbish
in the dark pre-dawn,
the stars still crisp
in the frost-black
overhead, the plastic wheels
on the bins jolting
over the gullies and ridges
of the old creek bed
that was once our driveway
before — before February 22nd
when the earth god stretched
again in his sleep, or was it Loki,
writhing to avoid the serpents’ venom,
the earth also condemned
to writhe with him, while we,
like ninepins, were knocked about —
most to pick ourselves up again,
dust off, dig out,
but one hundred and eighty one
not so fortunate, fallen witness
to the random acts of violence
of an indifferent planet.
.
© Helen Lowe, 2011
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This poem is dedicated to the memory of the 181 people who died in Christchurch’s February 22nd earthquake.
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boy those last two lines are pack an emotional punch. Wonderful tribute
Thank you, Sharon.
Absolutely beautiful. I could see the starlight and feel the frost. Last two lines – wonderful.
Thank you, Kathleen—the ending felt inevitable once I got to a certain point with the poem, turned towards it like a river …
“of the old creek bed that was once our driveway” there’s something so kiwi about that, and the understated violence. Nicely done.
Thanks, Alicia–I am really pleased that this poem seems to be ‘speaking’ to readers.
Thanks for the poem. I’m trying to write about the earthquake–from a safer distance than you.
Harvey, at first I couldn’t write about them at all, I think it was just too close, but with a little more ‘distance’ they’re starting to ‘just come’ of their own accord.
So beautiful Helen, and heart-rending.
Thank you, Mary.