Warnings of cold fronts and of floods
caused fear amongst the homeless
and those in lower regions ...
some children are lost.
Oh, dark sky of daily mourning!
Tonight I've heard the bawl
of the Helder Berg ...
It cried with the voice of a Man:
agonizing, its scream sent churning
curses down Eerste Rivier, while ice
penetrated songs of faint stars adrift
in scattered shift, on water hell
of oceans wild and coastlines drenched
by rivers' raw embrace.
Sirens sounded shattered homes
and broken families, as souls departed
in screeching slip. Bray and bleat
turned blood to clot. A dog howled --
shrill! --
in dark night's driving chill.
But then, against the window pane
storm signed its magical scrawl:
the warbles of rain's tremolo hint
in visual drawl:
patter-painted sound on heaven's wall
and softer, softer still, so soft
the silence fell ...
till moon's muttered yell
turned show of snow;
turned gold; turned yodel ...
Then morning beamed
its promised rainbow ...
curved above the wail of wind.
.
Author notes
Photo: © Myra Lochner 2008 -- Stellenbosch Rainbow
Ongoing, penetrating rain the past three days in the Western Cape especially of South Africa ... and still more rains predicted. Rescue workers prepare for floods.
I so love rain and the cold of winter ... but while I am safe and warm, and cannot do something constructive about this situation, I pray for those without shelter ... Many lost their homes ... are housed in community centers and fed by rescue teams.
Then: ever the promise of the Everlasting Rainbow ...
A contest entry
- Extreme Weather by Kari.
1000 points, ended July 15, 2008, 11 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 17 of 17
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Wow!
Then morning beamed
its promised rainbow ...
curved above the wail of wind.
These lines are absolutely fantastic. I really enjoyed this piece alot! Wow, I'm speechless just by those 3 lines! Excellent job!
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moving
that was very intersesting i hope to see more from you tht was very moving and the theme was lying underneath yet also bold.
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Thank you so much for your comment and applause ..
which I only saw NOW after a hectic month or two ...
I am sorry I did not rate it ... now I give you five stars.
Love
Myra
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Myra
being on the other side of the world, getting some drifts of news here and there, thinking of the work my wife does in the Townships, knowing that even the slightest of rain brings discomfort for many - yet alone the fear and cry depicted in your poem, this awakens some fear in my heart too. I am blessed by the rainbow, in its beauty, but more so, in its promise. Congratualations on your gold.
Frans
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A wonderful piece Myra... yet just an observation... one of hope, faith... of belief in the future.
Mike -
Can relate to this
Being in Iowa, USA. Seems we are being deluged everywhere in the world these days - global warming in action? Anyway, this was a beautiful write. The imagery and fantasy-laden descriptions were stunning. "souls departed in screeching slip" indeed. You could be describing hurricanes, tornadoes, most any disaster. Esy to see why this won gold.
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This is very well done!
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Thank you very much for the Gold ...
and for hosting a wondrous contest. I saw this in the midst of severe storm weather in the Western Cape ... and did not think twice to enter. I am privileged to be part of this collection of poetry.
Love
Myra
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beautifully written, and the imagery is astounding. Brilliant write.
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We had a bunch of Katrina victims in a collusium for quite some time here. The church staff went to work there and did yeoman work for the people.
Look at this http://allpoetry.com/poem/4165251 -
Interesting
Readable, top to bottom.
Some engaging lines and audio-like effects.
Tom -
Awesome Pen!
How many people even care about the other guy outside of their cozy homes? God Bless you for an altruistic poem of such scope!
Regards,
Jennifer
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This sent chills all through me. I could visualize the merciless storm and it's innocent victims well. The power of your words is awesome. Good luck in the contest.
Sincerely,
Leo Long
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Wow. I felt all of this, every word.
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Beautiful use of assonance, especially here: "patter-painted sound on heaven's wall and softer, softer still, so soft the silence fell" and your rhythm was perfect. Wonderful write!
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I love reading your poems because I can relate to everything you write, having been to south africa many many times to see my family. Your description was amazingly accurate and reminded me of how scared I'd been going out at night due to the ongoing fear of everything around you, especially uncertainty.
Hope your poems reach out to others as they do to me.
Keep penning!
Swim~
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OH my, this is bad news my dear, if it is not bad enough it is winter but to have floods as well. My thoughts are with you all there and hope you will be safe. The ones without homes, this makes me sad and I pray no one gets lost in the tempest.
Love, C
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