Encroachment.
Before the lunge of rampaging
breakers terror sits sweating
on dwellers crouching in houses
close to high cliffs.
Against the scream of outraging
forces stand stalwart cattle
as storm batters pastures where
lambing ewes cringe.
Harsh the challenge to coastal line
farming as by fiercely whipping
efforts to halt ocean-encroachment
wind always wins.
No labour can cage land-sliding
reshapes by nature's elements
when incessantly riled with greedy
over-mined rape.
-
Author:
Fay Slimm. (
Offline) - Published: March 6th, 2022 05:22
- Comment from author about the poem: Bit of Sunday reflection on negligence and its result to our coast lines. Hope you enjoy
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 36
Offline)
Comments8
Same kind of situation occurs along parts of the east coast of Australia, Fay. Folks have built in positions too close to the edge of land in order to maximize 'Sea Views' and now cry for risk mitigation in the form of giant unsightly concrete blocks which completely bugger what once was pristine golden beach.
Thanks for your piece, which crystallizes the situation in poetic form nicely.
And thanks for sharing the same situation in your neck of the woods Dave - - riled oceans are quite indifferent to barriers of boulders or concrete - - once taken those slices of land are never re-gained again
Yes, no matterwhat mankind does to the landscape, the environment, the oceans, nature and the natural laws will have the last word.
When I was a keen photographer I loved to capture how nature would claim back the industrial landscapes. Many pictures of beautiful 'weeds' ensued.
I was trying to write some poetry the other day along the lines of:-
"here above tenacious entanglement of bramble,
sparse trees stand like worn out upturned witches broomsticks,
stooping in permanent battered submission to the punishing wind".
The wind, natures wind, beyond our control. We even hear of bowling over those huge windmill generators.
You poetry reminds us that we are not in control, mere tenants on this planet.
Thanks so much for the review of Encroachment dear D and I wholly agree that we are mere tenants on this abused planet - - thanks too for those few wonderful lines you wrote on the same subject - - -
You mess with nature, she bites back.
You take away grass and replace it with concrete, then expect flooding.
You don't dredge rivers, they flood.
All down to governments who don't invest in infrastructure, and clueless councils who bicker over chocolate biscuits.
Good write Fay.
I saw a picture of a monastery in Ethiopia, I think. It is built on the edge of a sheer rock cliff. The only way in and out is via rope pulleys!
A haunting reminder of what coastal communities are going through. Its the same here on Lake Michigan and I suspect any coastal community. Sad. And people say climate change isn't real! Great write Fay!
The butterfly effect, we must heed to your poetic words
this is awesome Fay .. full of truth and despite the devastating impact on our coastline .. I can say that this is one of the prettiest bits of poetry I have encountered in a fair old while .................. x
Had to re-read it myself to get the prettiness you mention in your supportive as ever comment mon ami - - it escaped me but bless ya for seeing and saying so Nev. - -- thanking ee muchly and wery sincerely.............. x
Very true words Fay and the message is clear. Well done!
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.