ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

THAT SINKING FEELING ... Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBark Poet


Insidious and silent,
sneakily it wore away
the aging rotten pit props
underneath the street today;
weakened by damp of floods long gone
and pressures from above
the mother shook and opened up
earth - reminiscent of
the craters that men saw in France,
when shelling shook her core.
Thick filthy mud and sludge and stench -
the detritus of war.

This was war on a different front,
the combatants were shocked,
that sinking feeling they now felt
by some folk sadly mocked.
But once again the spirit of
community kicked in,
the Mayor and Mining Ministers
quick to take it on the chin,
offering aid and support
to the sad and aged pair
who'd overcome one obstacle
to slump once more in despair.

The rivers wrath had played a part
likewise mine shafts of old.
The earth was taking back her own.
To fight one must be bold.
The engineers were called to share
modern technology
to stop and solve this problem
as quick as quick could be.
Backhoes and excavators
were thrown into the fray
whilst pumps were working overtime
to pump water away.

And businesses around the town
donated free of charge,
equipment and materials
to fill this hole so large.
Each inch was fiercely fought for,
each yard slowly reclaimed,
each metre filled and filled again
till victory was attained.
A hole in one slow disappeared
and order was restored.
The mother covers up the scars
as she has done with wars.

But stories linger longer
and the blight of war remains
and folks round here now wonder
just what our land contains.
Our land prices did plummet
in the aftermath of flood
and doubtless the publicity
of sinkholes isn't good.
But battlers - well they don't give up
and soldiers never quit,
we do the job that must be done
and make the best of it.

Compared to some folks in the world
we have no cause to grouse.
The earth didn't quite swallow them
and they still have the house.

Wow! What a great topical poem Maureen.

Very reminiscent of what CJ Dennis did in his day - taking stories from the current news and writing poetry about them for the newspapers.

Great stuff, and also good to see how the community got involved in supporting the couple who faced this trauma.

Cheers
Shelley

Thank you Shelley - I appreciate your considered response. Ipswich has always had a great community spirit. Our Mayor immediately organized motel accommodation for this couple, had T shirts made stating - I survived a sinkhole and has given the elderly couple much support through the whole ordeal. The hole will be filled and compacted and all put to rights at no cost to them - which there was no obligation to do (apparently) Locals are a tad nervous understandably but it is reassuring to know that your mayor shows such support and care. Ipswich is a great place to live.

Thanks Maureen, that was a very disturbing report. Given Australia's history, it makes you wonder how many other mine shafts are lurking below the surface of areas that are now built upon. We're on the southern coast, and the problem down this way is more likely to be related to caves that might honeycomb the ground under the cliffs.

Cheers
David