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Poetry


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Zealand

By Fledermaus

12 December 2006

Yesterday I saw this programme about what would happen if a storm surge would reach London. In that programme they mentioned the flood of februari 1953 which killed 1834 people in the Netherlands, 307 in Britain and 230 at full sea. Probably one of the most horrible disasters western Europe experienced since WW2.
Some of the land which was flooded is still under water, and, in spite of the marvelous dikes that were build since, the sea could still prove a threat to those living near to it.

Water splashed over the dike
How could this flood ever be
The church's tower but a spike
Rising above a new sea

Humans killed
Houses gone
Cattle drowned

Their homes are beneath the waves
Drowned forever until doom
The sea, the ocean, the graves
Threaten us with their cold gloom

Cruel water
Mighty sea
Without mercy

Reviews

Hi Fledermaus
Written by jean.day (2366 comments posted) 13th December 2006

The 53 storm is the one I wrote my book, The Great Cley Floods about. The pictures that went with the artilces that I used to research it were amazing. And of course the Netherlands had it much worse being a flatter land.

But the thing that surprised me in Cley was that the waters receeded so quickly. The main surge came at 6 p.m. and rose to 9-10 feet within minutes, but by the next morning, it was down to 3-4 feet and by the next day, it was just the mud and chaos and dead left behind.

Interesting to get somebody else's take on the same thing.

Written by Fledermaus (3488 comments posted) 13th December 2006

I only know the flood from stories and from the television, but it must have been devastating.
It's a good thing that both the British and Dutch government have taken measures since, such as the Thames barrier and the Delta Works, but only recently a report from some civil engineering scientist showed that there are still some weak spots. Hopefully they won't forget the disaster of 53 years ago...

I see that your story is on this site. I'll read it!

Thanks for your comment.

Written by wattle (117 comments posted) 14th December 2006

'Fledermaus' this is very powerful. it applies equally to the 2004 tsunami in the indian ocean and many other places as well. I guess it reminds us all how powerless we are against nature when things go wrong. --- thank you.

Written by ellipinnock (1786 comments posted) 14th December 2006

I didnt like the second line but I reaally liked the overall feel of this - very nice piece.

Elli

Written by Fledermaus (3488 comments posted) 15th December 2006

Thanks Wattle and Elli.

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