While just over a week ago, much of the state was sweltering and facing the risk of fire, we now find ourselves being lashed by ex-tropical cyclone Oswald. Some of the images that are circulating at present are absolutely devastating…
I offer this poem in the hope that this weather passes without too much loss.
*****
First Fire, Then Flood
When summer stripped the mountain
what stood out in revealed space was
a watercourse cut steep in hard stone
*
Wonder where the water is now that was there?
Wonder if the stone misses it?
*
Speech comes out bleached, stone like:
after the events of silence, the floating away
of silence into speech
*
Roll a rock down the slope to learn
the thunder of your being
*
Long for the stone
which longs for the sky
which longs for the sun
which longs for the cloud
which longs for
*
Rain,
unfathomable stuff
Beautiful, considered prose xo
Thanks Carly… been tough times.
A fine verse…if the locust show-up next…I would consider moving if I were you…take good care.
Couldn’t agree more Charles!
I love, ‘Roll a rock down the slope to learn
the thunder of your being’! Thank you, Graham
Thanks Deb, glad the sound of this resonated with you.
Wonder if the stone misses the water – love it!
Lovely to hear from you Fiona. Hope the weather didn’t hit you and your family too hard.
hi graham. you were in my thoughts during this watery mayhem. doesn’t sound like you’re personally affected but my sympathy for those who are. all the best ray.
we are safe and dry Ray… so many doing it tough right now. On a brighter note, we will hopefully make it to your reading at La Mama in Feb!
good to hear you’re all ok. hopefully you can make it to the reading. would be great to catch up.
sure would be Ray. we will be doing our best to be there.