Meditation on the floods of ‘94

And I think about the coffins
floating out of frame. The old
television like a box of faded
off-market crayons. The luster
lost, the proper name all
but forgotten. And I think
about the coffins. The ferries
of the dead floating
above houses. The suggestion
of what remains inside
too unsettling to consider. How
the body sinks in to the reality
of our fortunes when the mind
fights and fights to keep
those fortunes away. And I wonder
if the mind survives
the body. If the mind sees visions
of itself and recoils at the horror
of knowing what happens in the
after. The body transforms. This
would seem to be the purpose of life
to keep moving from beauty
to the creation of beauty made
possible in demise. And the coffins
as symbols of our belief
we can hold back
the teeth of time. That we can carry
civilization out beyond
the breakers of reality
and continue to ferry the dead
closer and closer to returning
if we just hold on. But here. Here
we see them. They are not
them anymore. And we know this.
And as the water recedes
find no one has the courage
to open the coffins
that rest like moldering fish
outside our doors

Reviews

[SkinlessFrank]

This is beautiful, the imagery of the decay and decomposition flowing like stinking mud and the destruction of lives spill over in my mind to the decay of all things that civilization builds, and the thin veneer of the casket being the only barrier separating our eyes from beholding the raw truth. Nature in the end will have its way us with I suppose, whether we dare look at the chaotic outcome or not.

[Eilis]

Hi, thank you for your kind review. It does all seem inevitable. But our modern minds do seek to escapes the grimness of reality. I appreciate your thoughts.

[Pryde Foltz]

Your words capture the beauty and renewal found even in death and decay. I sene also the loss of not-knowing but the greater fear of looking in on something we are better off not-knowing until the time is right for us. A haunting but beautiful natural write.

[Eilis]

Hi, Pryde. Thank you for your thoughtful reading of the poem. Your idea of beauty and renewal is so important. I apologize for the delay in replying, I’ve been ill. I will visit your page in the next day or so. I’m still recovering.

[Pryde Foltz]

I hope you feel better soon.

[Chris Shaw]

I can remember reading what happens to a body that has resurfaced in the river after a period of several weeks. It was difficult reading, especially trying to contemplate the decomposed state of what was once a living person. It produced grim images. Your poem does that too, Eilis, on a much larger scale after the tragedy of a major flood. Keep the coffin lids closed says I. Life is hard enough without creating images which would be difficult to erase because of their ugly rawness. That’s my opinion. Every one is different. A thought provoking piece that has much depth to it. All good wishes dear poet.

Chris

[Eilis]

I agree, Chris. Our imaginations impart their own horror without the rawness of that reality. I never have been able to forget the images of those coffins as I watched the news. Thirty years later I still see them sometimes. Thank you for your visit. Best wishes to you.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

when one person dies, it is a tragedy. but when many die at once it becomes a shock too hard to bear. i remember the 2004 tsunami and the devestation it wrought. i was still in school, one of my friends actually came from the affected area. i remember how that event changed him and the way i had to re-think everything i knew about how life worked. i had never thought that life was so fragile. i had been sheltered my whole life and such things were unimaginable.
then tere was the 2011 East Japan Earthquake. that literally flipped my world upside down. i went to volunteer to the worst-affected areas (i didnt stay long, there was actually nothing to do there). but i was again reminded just how unfair, sudden, violent the world is. how civilisation lasted this long, is quite incredible.
'And the coffins
as symbols of our belief
we can hold back
the teeth of time.'
this line really has a multitude of meanings. when i die, everything associated with me will fade from existence. it'll be gone in a flash. as if i never existed. but until then, i will try to exude love. maybe the good things i do will take on a life of their own and persist once i am forgotten.

[Eilis]

That’s a wonderful philosophy, Ern. Really all we can do is make the most of our time here I suppose. Once it’s over we can no longer make an impact in any way. I live pretty far inland in Georgia (in the US) and for the first time in my lifetime a hurricane was still a category one when it reached us this year. I stood on my porch watching as it passed over in my tiny house that has been standing since 1955 and I was amazed that this home is still standing. It is amazing that so much has lasted when so much happens everyday. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, I appreciate you reading my stuff.

[Robert Trakofler]

I realized pretty quickly and I hope I don’t come across as rude and repetitive but during those brief moments of death that my vessel was gone and no longer functioning I remember saying to myself oh so this is what it’s like of course the strange part was that I was dead when I thought this no brain activity was going on at that time so what was I doing still thinking! Lol that’s when the concept of channel really started to come to light for me:/ you are so spot on in this meditation dear Eilis with your golden stylus this reminds me of a line from one of my old poems… do not grieve my long lost passage my grave resides in you. Fantastic poem my dear

[Eilis]

Our conscious is too full and vivid to simply disappear. That is my thought. It is the spirit of us that endures in our artifacts. I love that what you said about thinking when reality would say you could not. Love that line from your poetry as well. That is so true. So much remains within. Thank you for your visit and generous thoughts, Robert.

[LazerRays]

To take a tragic and gloomy event and to have the skill and passion to make a beautiful poem is a gift. And that's what brings poems like these really into light, there is something so delicate that reflects the author on their ability to use words and make you feel a sort of somber grace reading it. This was a nice read, thank you

[Eilis]

Hi, thank you so much for your kind comment. Your words are meaningful and appreciated.

[I Shred This Cabbage]

Such sad imagery, but so very beautifully expressed. Some big themes touched on here but in a very human, empathetic way. There’s a very feeling, caring person behind these words, I would venture to guess! The crux of it I found in these lines;
But here. Here
we see them. They are not
them anymore. And we know this.

[Eilis]

Hi, thank you for reading and for your kind words. I appreciate you taking the time.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Love the stark, sad imagery here.
This is a poem forever relevant...it applies just as well to the floods from Knoxville Tenn. to Ashville NC...and so many washed away...gone...the houses floating like coffins...Nature wiping out so many in her fury.
j.

[Eilis]

I hadn’t thought of that but you are right. These this keep recurring. More often these days. Thanks for reading, Jacob.