Earthquake, or: Flash flood

Posted on January 22, 2023January 29, 2023 by ben Alexander

Poetry Partners #163

‘Earthquake’, a Septolet by Kaci Rigney

rumbling, rolling
rubble scattering
stumbling
shaking

ripples fracture
the California streets
rife with panic

Kaci Rigney: https://kacirigney.com/

‘Flash Flood’, a Septolet by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

skies tear
open
flashing
eyes scan

torrents raging, ripping, 
sweeping, smashing, crushing
Negev hikers

Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

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List of Poetry Partners

38 thoughts on “Earthquake, or: Flash flood”

murisopsis January 23, 202307:03 Reply

Chilling stories of people reacting to natural disasters and peril… both well executed poems that tell tragic stories!
1. ben Alexander January 23, 202307:20 Reply
  
  💖🙏🏻 Muri 🙏🏻💖
2. Kaci Rigney January 26, 202319:00 Reply
  
  Thank you
Poetry Partners with David – Kaci Rigney January 22, 202322:35 Reply

[…] https://skepticskaddish.com/2023/01/22/earthquake-or-flash-flood/ […]
1. ben Alexander January 22, 202322:56 Reply
  
  🤎
Cindy Georgakas January 22, 202321:15 Reply

nicely done.. wait did I miss an earthquake? ha 🙇‍♀️
1. ben Alexander January 22, 202321:41 Reply
  
  💙🙏🏻 Cindy 🙏🏻💙
  1. Cindy Georgakas January 22, 202321:44 Reply
    
    ❤️💗
2. Kaci Rigney January 26, 202319:04 Reply
  
  There are always earthquakes. Haha! I was referring to the last really big one in the San Francisco area where the Nimitz freeway and the bay bridge collapsed, 30 + years ago. My husband had just crossed over the Nimitz within the hour. No cell phones then. Scared out of my mind.
  1. Cindy Georgakas January 26, 202320:08 Reply
    
    Always.. hahhahhahaha .. I was here for that one too. Yikes. My husband was at the Giants game. I hate to say this but we are overdue! (for the big one) yikes! 💗
    1. Kaci Rigney January 26, 202320:45 Reply
      
      I know! Scary, huh? The other two big ones were in So. Cal. when we lived there in the early 90’s. Wowser! Crazy!
jai January 22, 202317:53 Reply

Both septolets sweep one along with all the action verbs. Well done! 👏👏
1. ben Alexander January 22, 202318:24 Reply
  
  💕🙏🏻 Jai 🙏🏻💕 ~ thanks
2. Kaci Rigney January 26, 202319:04 Reply
  
  Thank you for your kind words.
  1. jai January 27, 202305:03 Reply
    
    My pleasure. 🙂
GraceoftheSun January 22, 202315:07 Reply

Wonderful poems, David. 💕
1. ben Alexander January 22, 202317:11 Reply
  
  ❤️🙏🏻 Grace 🙏🏻❤️ ~ thanks!
  1. GraceoftheSun January 22, 202315:22 Reply
    
    My pleasure 💕🙏💕
2. Kaci Rigney January 26, 202319:05 Reply
  
  🙂
Reaseaorg January 22, 202312:07 Reply

Captures the essence of natural disaster well. Great poems, thanks 🙂
1. ben Alexander January 22, 202312:45 Reply
  
  Thank you❣️
  
  ~David
2. Andrew Blair January 23, 202300:47 Reply
  
  Unnatural disasters, but then that is America.
  1. Reaseaorg January 23, 202311:07 Reply
    
    Yeah I can see that … either way the outcome is similar. Perhaps we have more say over the solution to unnatural disasters though
    1. Andrew Blair January 24, 202309:18 Reply
      
      Agreed
abvr January 22, 202311:24 Reply

Was there an attack in the Negev
So your Septolet reads
You use this form so well to portray war, terrorism, climate and natural disasters.

Is it a recent earthquake in California?
1. ben Alexander January 22, 202311:30 Reply
  
  I don’t know which earthquake Kaci was referring to, but flash foods in the Negev happen often, and a few years ago, 10 young lives were lost in one:
  
  https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/multiple-youth-feared-dead-in-southern-israel-flash-floods-552823
  1. abvr January 22, 202311:37 Reply
    
    Oh should have checked on what you meant with flash floods. I thought the poem was depicting a terrorist attack.
    Thanks, I just read the link.
    Desert rains can be dangerous.
    1. ben Alexander January 22, 202311:39 Reply
      
      🌊
      1. abvr January 22, 202311:41
        
        Yes. This is so uncanny.
        Talk about shooting and California.
        I just read that 10 people were killed at a new year celebration in California. 💔
      2. ben Alexander January 22, 202311:42
        
        😢 😢 😢
      3. abvr January 22, 202309:43
        
        I know!!! It’s beginning to feel like an every Sunday occurrence in America.
2. Kaci Rigney January 26, 202319:08 Reply
  
  There are always earthquakes in Cali. Northern California had a 6. + not too long ago
  1. abvr January 26, 202319:31 Reply
    
    Thank you for coming back to me Kaci. Yes I’ve often read about earthquakes in that part of the world.
    1. Kaci Rigney January 26, 202320:47 Reply
      
      You’re welcome. I’ve been through three 6. + earthquakes. Unnerving for sure.
      1. abvr January 26, 202321:02
        
        Oh I can well imagine Kaci, although I’ve only experienced earth tremors and once a tornado. That was enough to rattle my nerves.
      2. Kaci Rigney January 26, 202323:17
        
        I’m sure!
Andrew Blair January 22, 202311:13 Reply

Poor hikers, a most unexpected destination for a walk.
1. ben Alexander January 22, 202311:15 Reply
  
  Nah, not unexpected – there’s lots of hiking in the Negev, Andrew ❤
  
  ~David