Tuesday Poem: Swarm
Sep
06
2011
Swarm
Spring again—
bringing
the first yellow nod
of daffodils
among the bricks
of last year’s fallen chimney
………. and a fresh swarm
of earthquakes
building
in intensity
I think about leaving
.
© Helen Lowe, 2011
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Sunday September 4 marked the first anniversary of the year that saw Christchurch suffer 3 major earthquakes (7.1, September 4; 6.3, February 22nd; 6.3, June 13) and 8543 recorded shakes, which are still ongoing.
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Comments
Beautiful. I love the images your poetry creates. 🙂
That sums it up concisely and beautifully, Helen.
Yes. This…
Wen, Tim, Mary—thank you, all, for your positive response to the poem.
Although I’ve been thinking that perhaps the final line should read: “I think about leaving” as opposed to “of leaving.” Any thoughts?
the first yellow nod
of daffodils
amongst the bricks
of last year’s fallen chimney
favorite visual! But the next part is sad 🙁 kind of brings back the reality of your situation. Hard to believe there is so much tectonic plate movement where you are.
I think the juxtaposition of the the vividness of spring coming again ‘despite everything,’ and the renewed flurry of earthquake activity, are where the poem came from–an emotional dichotomy.