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Birth alas...
Written by patterjack (1060 comments posted) 18th May 2008 |
... of something monstrous .
Well put !
patterjack |
Indeed, patterjack
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 18th May 2008 |
Alas, oh, Alas! And it seems to me, the intervals of calm between natural disasters are becoming shorter and shorter, like childbirth contractions.
Thank you, pj, for your review!
Mia  |
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3136 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
A powerful and unsettling metaphor for mother Earth. The last verse offers a frightening perspective.
I remember reading a comment that the idea that we, as the superior race, own the land is as ridiculous as the flea saying it owns the dog: only you have put it far more elegantly
cheers
jane |
Written by rui (150 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
The last verse is especially good.
The comparison to childbirth jarred with me a little: a woman's labour normally results in life, an earthquake only ever takes it.
But still a strong reminder that we live as the Earth's guests, not as its masters. Well done! |
Jane, rui, thank you
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
for your thoughtful comments.
Jane - I agree. I'm beginning to realise how little control we have over anything in the face of what's happening, and when I think about what's actually simmering under our feet... The control we think we have - or strive to have - seems to be an illusion, or a delusion in the backdrop of the moving and spinning earth both within and without!
rui - I agree, we are tenants on the earth, not landlords. And you are right. Woman's labour results in new life and cause for great joy. Perhaps Earth purges, renews and rebirths... But the birthing process itself - don't know, it's far from pretty especially if you are a woman! If it was men's job to give birth to babies, I've heard it said, there would be no need for population control!
Mia  |
Written by Brett (479 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
I thought the comparison to childbirth very good, Mia. And thought the poem powerful as a whole.
Earthquakes, ice-ages the earth will always heal itself, the only permenant damage is being done by man - just like the only things you will find that are ugly and tawdry are created by man. You can argue in the goodness of some and in the wonderful art produced but would it really be such a shame if the earth swallowed the entire human race?
Good work.
Cheers |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
Just wondering what she is bearing then...
Interesting metaphor, but it leaves that question. |
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
| A very moving piece Mia, and very true. The Earth , I am sure, is telling us that we are causing her great hurt, and she is suffering terribly. while God has given us a world that could equal no other planet, all man thinks about is making money and warring. Mother nature is warning us I feel. |
Brett, Fledermaus, thank you
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
for your comments. You both ask questions that are mind-boggling to answer.
Brett - Is it a bad thing if the earth swallowed up humans as a whole? I guess it depends on who you ask. Maybe endangered species such as humpback whales say it's a good thing??? I'd like to think animals and vegetables and minerals see some good in us, and don't want to see us as a whole go despite bad (ok, very bad)things we have done... And sometimes I think the chance is, we will nuke ourselves out of existence and take every living thing with us before we get swallowed up by the earth...
FM - What is being birthed? I don't know. I think I was thinking of biblical metaphors of birth used in both positive and negative ways. Renewal and rebirth etc, as well as out-of-control pain & fury & destruction. It's as if Earth responds to what men do her surface, eg. curse associated with the earth in Genesis on Adam, Cain etc, healing and renewal for Noah etc.
Just an aside, frankly some births are tragic. Diabolically evil men and women who have committed atrocities on big and small scale, were someone's babies. Maybe I was thinking subconsciously of the ultimate evil and ultimate good being birthed etc etc. Ah! It's too deep for me...
Mia  |
Josie, thank you
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
for your review. I think you are right, we should heed these things. But I wonder why these terrible diasters strike poorer countries? Even in New Orleans, at least on TV, I could see only poorer African Americans suffering from it. If the disasters struck the rich, maybe we will truly wake up and stop destroying the earth and each other.
Mia |
Moral Purpose?
Written by Katanga (724 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
Excellent poem, Mia!
It's got me thinking, in light of this and the perceptive reviews above, does poetry have a moral purpose, or is the function of poetry simply to comment?
Harrrrumph! Dunno!
Any further thoughts?
Cheers!
T |
Another difficult question
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
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John!
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 19th May 2008 |
I don't know. I was just commenting through the poem myself, not making any moral/immoral/amoral points. But I guess whatever I was thinking on many levels just came out, so it invited thought-provoking comments and questions.
But as I get older, I become aware of far greater forces at work than certainly myself and human race as a whole. The more I read on science (what little I've read and even less understand), I become aware how small we are. Humanism - the man being the measure of all things - while we all tend to live by it, I think, it is a delusion.
Ah... my brain hurts from too much philosophising...
Mia  |
Written by Robru (125 comments posted) 7th June 2008 |
I think this an excellent poem. we humans are not owners of anything,let alone the very planet where we live. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions do take human lives but they also help to keep the planet balanced according to Mother Nature's rules. We humans are insignificant and at best only caretakers. We should take very good care, we are going to be the losers in the final rovolt. |
Bob, thank you
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 7th June 2008 |
for your kind and thoughtful review. Reading your comments, I was curiously reminded of the phrase, 'naked have I come from my mother's womb, and naked I go.' (or something like that, I think, from the book of Job after he suffered personal catastrophes???)
You are right, we are not owners of anything. We brought nothing into the world, and we can't take anything away with us. You are right, at best, we are caretakers and stewards of the things entrusted to us.
You have made me think deeply, Bob, on this wet cold Sunday morning. What a thought to mull on before going to church!
Thank you again.
Mia |
Hi Mia
Written by Goddess (122 comments posted) 13th June 2008 |
A very thoughtfully piece. It's very intriguing to see natural disaters in this way. It really shows how small very are compared to natural disaters that control our lives or damn them.
A very good poem.
Goddess x |
thank you, goddess
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 13th June 2008 |
for your kind review.
I had a big discussion with my small group in church about how much control we actually have or don't have over our lives in the face of natural disasters that can strike anywhere. The people buried under the rubble probably had plans - for the evening, the next day, next year - next 10 years - all gone and made null in a matter of seconds.
It let me know all we have is here and now, and we must live in it fully, loving those who are in our lives. Some months ago, I thought I might be dying (it turned out to be a false alarm). I'd thought until then that I don't mind dying writing, 'cos I loved writing so much. But faced with a very real possibility of dying, all I wanted to do was make a home for my child and love him and my husband, and be a good mother for whatever time I'd left.
That was a wakeup call, that helped me put my priorities right.
Sorry for going on and on. Let me stop now. Thank you again for your kind review.
Mia  |
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