»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #23
»
The Hopeless Water
| Open Poetry #23 |
|
The Hopeless Water |
|
|
RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533
|
"A 12 Year old boy drowned because the 10 people on the riverbank watching him flail away wouldn't budge until the boy's father raised the rescue price to the equivalent of $1,100, but by then it was too late" -Henan province, China, July . . . Do your simple sandals wait upon the shore beneath the lavender blossoms of a paulownia tree, beside that sheet of opaque, tannish water on the north end of the Yellow River bridge? Unchecked wind which from the Taihang Mountains pulls the dust storms down from the poor hills, did it deafen you between relentless dunkings to negotiations on the southern end? Before the final silt fed anchored gulp Zheng Wei did you call for your baba? Were the last sounds just bits like duoshao qian or the increments between some thousand's yuans? Was your father a foreman at the tractor plant or a tobacco farmer outside Luoyang? Did his clothes and bearing give him away that the crowd thought they should jiangjia? Did you picture him going home to mother where into each other forever they would lean? Zheng Wei do you rest at the peach blossom fount or is your spirit a white heron winging, a waterbug skidding? . . . . baba=dad duoshao qian=how much (does it cost)? yuans=chinese currency Luoyang=capital of Henan province jiangjia=to bargain "Happy people have no history" - French Proverb [This message has been edited by RSWells (10-31-2002 10:48 PM).] |
||
| © Copyright 2002 Richard S. Wells jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
You effectively, yet poetically, shed light on the plight of a ten-year old Chinese boy and the social issues surrounding his untimely demise. This was enlightening and informative as well as thought-provoking! It is so totally inconceivable that a boy's life had to be "jiangjia" for and was lost in the process. A literary work of great import! EA [This message has been edited by Earth Angel (10-31-2002 09:13 PM).] |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Richard Earth Angel effectively said what I am feeling... |
||
|
RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
Thank you for your notice and replies. I was touched yesterday when I read in two local "avant garde" free press publications, in their "weird news" sections, of this story. While I endeavored to verify it through what is ordinarily considered "reputable" news agencies (the same ones which shy from reporting the truth about how our current president gained office), I was unable to find a UPI or AP to lend accredation. However, fact always stranger than fiction, I decided it was not out of the realm of possibility that this occurred. A bit of research on a language quite foreign to me,its poetry, a spot of geography and the implementation of a very common name for the victim (Zheng Wei being like Smith, Jones, Johnson or Thomas is our world) I felt it a story needing exploration and will admit it's conclusion found me near tears. [This message has been edited by RSWells (11-01-2002 01:03 AM).] |
||
Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Sometimes it is so hard for us of another culture to understand what the instincts of survival in poor countries can cause. I can't even image the sense of hopelessness that this Father felt, and the boy, oh that poor child - you are right Richard in your theory of what his last thoughts might have been (that he was not worth saving). How very, very sad that in a world of such waste and wealth, that a child has to suffer.  Very sad, but I enjoyed your work as usual. A smile costs nothing but makes someone rich. [This message has been edited by Mysteria (10-31-2002 11:09 PM).] |
||
|
passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
it's all about the money, sadly it's in the United States too. |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
But this very thing does happen...and humanity is lost in the shuffle of bills. Makes me think of Rome, and of the gladiators. All for blood sport, in some instances. We've not traveled all that far in 2000 years. I read this yesterday, Richard, and was so moved I did not know how to reply. Other than acknowledging your abilities as a writer, I'm just left, shaking my head. Thank you. |
||
|
Alicia Member
since 2002-03-22
Posts 279 |
~I too read this yesterday,...still silent here, just wanting you to know I've read and read and felt. Appreciate your notice, your researching, your heart and words here. *Peace Richard. |
||
|
Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
Richard, this moves me to tears to think that after all this time there is still so much that society has to learn. Your thought and detail and time that went into this is much appreciated. You are truly a writer of incredible talent. Thank you for sharing such wonderful verse with us. |
||
|
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Richard, I read this, too, and was left choking back tears, searching for words that never came. Thank you, for your sensitive heartbeat and your outstanding ability to pen the unthinkable. |
||
Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
(tears fall down my cheeks) Oh Richard, this is so very tragic, it angers me how so many do deeds on a Kohlberg Level 2 scale, just so they can be rewarded rather than thinking of the real importance, the life of a boy and the respect and honor of saving him, and instead they go about their selfish ways! (big hugggssssss) My heart goes out to the boys family and I hope all can relate to this tragedy and a joined effort can be made in rescuin should this tragedy re-occur somewhere else, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Richard, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
||
|
Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
This is so incredible.. it's almost unbelievable..that only it were. Tis a sad world we live in. Well done poet sir. ~Hugs~ ~Love, like magic, depends on believing.~ |
||
|
scorpio Member Ascendant
since 2002-10-02
Posts 5178right...there |
I can't express the anger I feel...How can people allow a twelve year boy to struggle in the water while they wait for the right amount of money to be offered??? How can they live with themselves? This turns my blood cold...God, why was I not there??? ...believe what your heart feels... [This message has been edited by scorpio (11-01-2002 04:57 PM).] |
||
|
Sandpiper Senior Member
since 2002-06-15
Posts 738land of flora and fauna |
A wake-up call to humanity, well written, well said. |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
