The Flood (For Titia) - pipTalk Forums

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Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis

since 1999-11-08

Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

0 posted 2003-02-01 05:27 AM

The Flood

The silhouettes along a dike
Now frozen there in black and white
Were witnesses on daybreak’s page
Of photograph’s from nighttime’s rage

Northwestern storm was to consume
A shoreline victim of the moon
And devastation was the proof
Of lives now gone from empty roofs

The mighty power of the sea
Had broken ingenuity
Now only photographs remain
As testimony to the pain

May fortune never more decree
Disaster on the northern sea
Where man has built a wall designed
To keep what sea has not resigned

In black and white the waters swell
Where memories in grayness dwell
Now fifty years have come and gone
And to the dikes they still are drawn

Perpetuated in a row
The silhouettes from long ago
A line of statues on the shore
In whispers of the nevermore

Elizabeth Santos
February 1. 2003

[This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (02-01-2003 06:00 AM).]

Kit McCallum

Administrator

Member Laureate

since 2000-04-30

Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada

1 posted 2003-02-01 07:59 AM

"Perpetuated in a row
The silhouettes from long ago
A line of statues on the shore
In whispers of the nevermore"

Such beautiful flow and rhythm to contrast the tumultuous rage of the sea, Elizabeth. This was just lovely, very much enjoyed, my friend.

Best wishes,
/Kit

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

2 posted 2003-02-01 08:49 AM

You're wonderful, Liz... Titia will love this for sure - I know I do...

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis

since 1999-11-08

Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

3 posted 2003-02-01 08:52 AM

KIt, THank you so much. I was so taken by Titia's post this morning.I hOpe every one reads it and looks at the pictures and video on the website she posted. Thank you , Titia for the piece of history which sees its 50th anniversary and for your memories of the event.
Nan, I'll have to guess that you posted the picture for this poem. Thank you.
Thanks again, Titia, for a most interesting post
Liz

Titia Geertman
Member Ascendant

since 2001-05-07

Posts 5182
Netherlands

4 posted 2003-02-01 10:13 AM

Oh Liz, thank you so much, you described what was going on here so well.
Today there's a six hour remembrance service going on television. The local people are quiet people, there wasn't much talk about the flood in the past years, but now tongues are getting loose and you hear the most dreadful stories ever. It's like only now they can put it behind in their minds.
And still there are people who can't speak at all, so horrible it was what they have encountered.

We are still not safe yet, even in this time with the change of weather. The danger now is coming from overflooded rivers, from the other side so to speak.

The whole Netherlands is below sea level and if the rising of the level of the sea coninues as it does now, another disaster could happen this century if all the bad elements come together as it did 50 years ago.

Thank you so much for taking the effort to write this beautiful poem my friend. It means a lot to me, even though I didn't live here at the time, it now feels as if I had lived here, because this has become my land, I'm one with it, inside and out.

Titia

Like scattered leaves...my words will flow

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean

since 1999-07-07

Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla

5 posted 2003-02-01 10:22 AM

Elizabeth,
A poem as a poem should be written, excellent.

garysgirl

Member Laureate

since 2002-09-29

Posts 19237
Florida, USA

6 posted 2003-02-01 10:24 AM

Liz, this is very interesting. I'm going to read Titia's report, now. Thank you...

"Love makes the world go around"
~~with love and hugs from Ethel~~

Charisma

Member Ascendant

since 2000-09-30

Posts 5906
lost in blue pages

7 posted 2003-02-01 10:56 AM

Thank you Liz for sharing.

((hugs))
Charisma

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

8 posted 2003-02-01 03:44 PM

A very rude awakening that nature is the all powerful one isn't it? Now that was very kind of you to take Titia's world into your heart and share it with us. It was a devastating time that is for sure. And nope it was not Nan

~ The soul lies buried in ink that does not flow ~

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