Isobel

Human Nature

by Isobel

Tuesday 15th March 2011 7:26 am (first posted Monday 14th March 2011 10:52 pm)

How easily the mighty fall

no metal strong enough

to front the fury of this sea

no weight great enough

to stand its own ground

no house safe enough

a home to be

and yet the trees, stand still

rooted to the planet’s core

blinded to the fate of man

deaf to Nature’s angry roar

Bag the bodies

count the heads

tsunami tears

the walking dead

feel the meltdown

prick the skin

irradiate yourself within

as Armstrong steps upon abyss

how does a man react to this?

I heard the news tonight, oh boy

the aftershocks are here for all

insurance premiums are set to rise

the Nikkei plunges and the FTSE falls...

◄ Something Old, Something New

The Stuff of Life ►

Comments

<Deleted User> (7164)

Thu 17th Mar 2011 13:15

I'm a bit late commenting on this (been very busy)

I love it Isobel and personally i think if there is any flaws they represent the flaws in nature.
I agree with Francine ;-)

Isobel

Wed 16th Mar 2011 19:04

I’d like to make one last thank you to everyone for commenting on this poem.

As I’m well aware, it isn’t perfect but obviously looks at issues that are meaningful to us all. When something on this scale happens, you feel very powerless. How do you express those emotions? Poetry is great for giving us that tool – the writing and the sharing.. A bit like signing a book of condolence – we’ve made our mark in some way. xx

Chris Co

Wed 16th Mar 2011 18:00

For me the most emotive lines are those at the end- loathed to say killer lines :(

You hit squarely upon a very real and disgusting truism though.

For me your final lines elevate the poem- an added dimention of human loss, the loss of humanity in the aftermath.

Chris

Val Cook

Wed 16th Mar 2011 15:01

Sad and to the point Isobel.I can`t get the images out of my head. Good poem.

Julian (Admin)

Wed 16th Mar 2011 14:59

Jeez Isobel, well done, especially the last lines reflecting the appalling focus by, for example, the Today programme with that pillock Naughtie seemingly most interested in the cost to the stock market, whilst people searhcd for their loved ones.
And, yesterday, focusing on whether there were any British casualties. shaming. superbly done you.

Cate Greenlees

Wed 16th Mar 2011 13:43

As Dave says very thought provoking. We watch on the news as all these atrocious things are happening, and in the same report are asked to realise our insurance will go up and the FTSE is affected...not sure what that says about us as a species.
Cate xx

<Deleted User>

Wed 16th Mar 2011 11:47

It's really good, Isobel. I didn't even try to make a poem. It certainly ended on a realistic, but very grim note.

<Deleted User> (8943)

Wed 16th Mar 2011 11:12

Hi Isobel, I only heard about the tsunami in Japan last night, I rarely watch TV or read newspapers. I figure someone will tell me about the big stuff and they usually do.

This poem has me feeling small and insignificant, I often feel this way when confronted by Nature either flexing Her muscles or in Her glory.

Thank you for the images and expressing so clearly the emotion.

Isobel

Tue 15th Mar 2011 17:20

Ha - I should have said earlier that my poetry is perfect. I deliberately insert one imperfect line to every poem - just so the two Gods in my life can have something to tease me over! ;)xx

Anthony Emmerson

Tue 15th Mar 2011 16:11

So, What do you call a woman with a piano in one ear and a violin in the other?

Answer - anything you like, she can't f*****g hear you!

As if I would!

Regards,
A.E.

Isobel

Tue 15th Mar 2011 15:56

Yes - I do Anthony - do you have a twin brother by any chance? A good friend has already taken issue with that line. Gimmee a break - do you ever compose poetry with a piano in one ear and a violin in the other? And I'm not talking Chopin or Joshua Bell...

I'm glad you and some others realise that I am referencing other things in here. I would never have written a piece just about the plight of the Japanese, much as it distresses me. I felt inspired to write it after watching the news last night and realising what it all comes down to in the end - the bottom line for man - money, how it will effect him in the short term...

I honestly believe that until tsunamis are flooding up and down the M1/M6, everyone will turn a blind eye to what is so patently happening to this world. Probably just as well, since there is little we can do about it as individuals.

Thank you for your comments all - I hope I didn't depress anyone too much.

(The Armstrong line was probably a bit tenuous - I was trying to add weight to the fact that man is teetering on the edge of a huge precipice - extinction, to be precise. I had the idea of one big step for man in my mind, turning on its head the glory of that first walk on the moon)

Anthony Emmerson

Tue 15th Mar 2011 13:34

Hi Isobel,

I like the way you've referenced other things in this. I suppose we can only measure the impact of events like this by comparison and their effects. Not sure I got the "Armstrong" line though?

My fave was the nod to "A Day in the Life" - a perfect fit. Only one line I would really take issue with - and I'm guessing you know which one it is as well as I do!

Regards,
A.E.

Greg Freeman

Tue 15th Mar 2011 10:44

Well done for having a go at this, Isobel. Whether reading about it over the cornflakes, or watching the news, it's very difficult to find the words. I like the way you spotted the different ways we count the cost. We didn't really see the Indonesian tsunami; the film of this one has been stunning, overhelming. On Friday I kept watching the video over and over again, hypnotised by it. And now the fallout. The one word that struck me on the TV news last night was "flimsy". Such a little word.

Laura Taylor

Tue 15th Mar 2011 10:10

Nice one Isobel for tackling this subject. I was thinking of writing something myself. It's took me back to a 'count your blessings' perspective. Went home last night, usually I grumble about having to do a bit of housework, but last night I was just really grateful that I had a house at all...and that all the people I love are still alive, and reasonably healthy, unlike so many thousands in Japan.

melanie coady

Tue 15th Mar 2011 09:23

every hair stood up reading this xx

Ann Foxglove

Tue 15th Mar 2011 08:24

I don't know why but the image I have found most haunting is of two boats caught up in a vast whirlpool. They just seemed to be going round and round for all enternity! In fact all the shots of stranded ships seemed so surreal. Now we have images of children being "gone over" with geiger counters. It just gets worse and worse. Thank you for your poem. xx

Andy N

Tue 15th Mar 2011 08:18

Enjoyed it Isobel a lot.. Some of the images in particular involving the Nuclear Power Station on the news have left me shivering almost down to the ground considering a friend has a home near a nuclear power station in Morecombe.

I should write something too (this reminds me) but i loved this x

Terry White

Tue 15th Mar 2011 06:40

Well written. Really makes you think about how strong of a hold we really have on this planet. We take so much for granted every day and think we've tamed this rock we live on.

Francine

Tue 15th Mar 2011 01:55

Yes.
For those who take for granted... For those self-absorbed... Mother Nature reminds us to reflect upon that which is of real value.

Dave Bradley

Tue 15th Mar 2011 00:13

Thought-provoking and well-written Izz. The Japanese ambassador on the radio today twice used the phrase 'humbled by Nature'. It's so easy to forget the huge energies bound up in the planet beneath our feet.

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