Endurance
January 13, 2011
The POW prompt this week is “endurance”. I live in Brisbane, Australia, which is currently going through some pretty horrendous flooding. Luckily I live on a hill, so the most I’ve had to endure was the incessant condescending, repetitious news reports with all their emotional hype (and a few days off work…). If you only watch the television, it feels like the apocalypse is upon us. If you walk the streets, you see the reality – sure, lots of people are flooded but it seems like twice that many are hovering around willing to help out. Please note that only applies to my local area; I’m pretty sure Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley have indeed met the apocalypse and the death toll from those areas when the water goes down is going to be horrendous.
Many of my favourite local haunts will emerge badly flood damaged once the water goes down and the carnage spreads across something like 75% of our state. Many people have water up to their gutters, some don’t even have houses any more. So pretty please, donate some money to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal. I have taken some photos of the impact of our local area, but if you need more convincing, there are plenty of other shots from around the state circulating on the net.
And so, the poem:
January 13, 2011 at 12:09 pm
” Will we get out feet wet? ” Good to see you can still make jokes…That’s our girl..true blue! The journalists are having a field day but sensationalism and hype sells news.I lived in Bulimba for a year so I know West End, Milton and Oxford St quite well. Anna Bligh is doing a good job at keeping a calm and clear perspective on things.
I love the last stanza. A nice image of contemplation and resignation away from the hype of gloom and doom looking into the giant puddles.
January 13, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Thanks, Rall. I agree Anna Bligh is doing a great job. I hope she’s having plenty of power naps :)
January 13, 2011 at 9:00 pm
Hi Joanne!
I have missed reading your poetry and your stylish presentation. Pity that this one should be of such a sad topic. I’m happy at least that you live up a hill. We too have seen the same film footage continually repeated, to the annoyance of my partner. We were glad to see, later last night, that the water seemed not to have risen to the worst level predicted.
Thank you for your kind words over at Melrose Musings. Your eight month break is some going. We shall have to see but for now, I’m definitely disappearing. Best wishes for the future.
January 13, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Thanks, Derrick. Yes, we were lucky it didn’t peak higher. There are quite a few businesses on our main street that will be very relieved that they sandbagged for nothing.
Enjoy your time away from the blogosphere; we’ll all be here waiting if you ever change your mind.
January 15, 2011 at 1:06 am
Heartrending. That’s all I can say.
January 15, 2011 at 8:37 am
Walking down the street yesterday was both heartrending and heartwarming. There are probably two volunteers to every resident, if not more, usually strangers who have just turned up to help clean, or give out food and water. There is mud everywhere but people are just getting on with the cleanup.
January 15, 2011 at 1:23 am
The poem’s reliance on direct language (with even a degree of grim humour) married to the duality of information flood alongside the actual deluge give it great power and immediacy. Very effective.
January 15, 2011 at 8:39 am
Thanks Dick – can’t help myself with the grim humour, I think it’s how we cope over here :)
January 15, 2011 at 3:04 am
Sitting snug in my little hideaway here in the Midwest, surrounded by snow and more snow outside my windows, I am staggered by the terrible news from down under. So much damage and destruction. Sending positive energy to you to withstand and endure.
Your poem is evidence of your strength … I especially loved the last stanza. Brilliant to get away and commune.
January 15, 2011 at 8:41 am
Thanks, Marianne. Aussies are pretty hard to crush, I’m sure we’ll just bounce back. :)