A year on – My poem for February 22nd 2012

  • I was asked by many, many people to write something special for the people of Christchurch, my city. The reason is today is the 1 year anniversary since a major Earthquake devastated my city, February 22nd 2011 is a day that changed many lives, including mine… I cried writing this lots, so I hope it is ok and not to sad for you all, and that it is what you were expecting.

    I am not sure what category to put this in, so I am ticking 4, Dark Poems, Love Poems, Other Poems and Authors Note and also Thank you so much to Christine, the person who helped me edit and fix this up before its posting.

    If you are posting this on Facebook LINK TO THIS PAGE AND DON’T POST THE POEM 🙁 there has already been claims by others that this is their own work.

    A year on

    I am tired
    Exhausted and drained
    So are my neighbours
    And their neighbours are the same
    It’s been quite some time now,
    Full of confusion, uncertainty and tears
    A time of jumping at every sound
    And worrying about what’s next.

    It’s hard for the parents
    With children so afraid,
    Watching them cry
    As they get shaken awake,
    With a lack of understanding
    And no way to explain
    That this isn’t anyone’s fault
    There is no one to blame.

    It’s even harder for those older
    The ones with life under their belts
    As they are faced with a decision
    To leave or stay and fight?
    And even if leaving was an option
    How can you abandon the world you know?
    It’s a question filled with tears and sorrow,
    No matter what the answer holds.

    Then there are those who lost someone
    Those who are all alone,
    The ones with pets who have gone missing
    And those whose houses have fallen down
    Not to mention the jobless
    As their livelihoods were stripped
    And when thinking about all of these people
    You can only ask… what holds us here?

    The answer to that question
    Is much more simple than it looks
    It is just a single word…
    That single word is HOPE
    We soldier on so bravely,
    With a dream of tomorrow that feels distant
    And as our memories are torn down
    We cling to it so warmly.

    We have hope for a better city
    One of happiness and dreams
    Hope for jobs and prosperity
    A city that rises green
    We have hope that if we survive this
    We can survive anything
    But most of all what we have hope for
    As silly as it may seem

    We have hope that no matter what happens
    All of us will be better people
    A people of patience, tolerance and love
    With a spirit that can never be crushed
    People with a connection deep
    With stories to share that will forever be unique
    We have hope as tired as we are…
    It will all be worth something, sometime afar.


    February 22nd, 2012 | Matty Angel | 8 Comments |

About The Author

Matty is a 36 year old girl who is an Autistic Poet, Writer and Artist and lives alone in Christchurch New Zealand with a kitty! Matty has given many talks on autism and about being unique in a world that's often not accepting, Matty has also engaged with artist and worked on Art projects Matty usually works on an Art project at the same time as a writing one! This means posts can be a bit delayed!

8 Responses and Counting...

  • rachel 02.22.2012

    beautiful words matty.
    sending so much love at this time of rememberance and still standing strong.
    much love from Doha, Qatar.
    Rachel – ex-christchurchian

  • Maggie

    Matty, you have a talent far beyond the words you write! You have touched my heart many times since you first posted in Trade Me after the first earthquake in Christchurch. You give me hope in my life, when at times of struggle, I have needed understanding, compassion, love, humour.
    Thank you so very much, Matty, for sharing as you have done.
    Blessings

    Maggie

  • Mark

    Matty,

    You are a beacon of hope for all those who you have come in contact with!

    much love from mark and his deers

  • Pip

    Matty you express evrything that we are thinking and feeling today, what a beautiful tribute to mark this 1st anniversary . Without hope we have no future.
    Your gift of writng never ceases to inspire me and we are all enriched by your sharing of this gift with us all.
    Know that you are loved by many

    Pip
    Hugs & mwah mwah mwah

  • Jo

    As always Matty, you have a wonderful way of words and express what others may be feeling but don’t know how to say it. Thank you so much for sharing your talent.
    love & hugs Jo

  • Christine

    This is such a special poem Matty. You say things beautifully. Thank you.
    Big hugs.

    Christine

  • Julie Yeoman

    Thank you Matty, you are blessed with a gift for capturing feelings in words, so obvious, so accurate and so inspiring.

  • Melanie Oates

    Matty, you have a great sensitivity. I love you very much!!!!

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