The River that Drowned

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Sat, 09 Aug 2014
  • 1578 reads
8 comments
 
(Inspired by China’s “Three Gorges Dam Project”)
 
He was raised along its banks – taken for granted that nature
made a pact with these, its gorges; had assured the River Yangtze,
the valleys were its cradle and in their purple shadow 
where people fished, washed their clothes,
it would always flow...
 
A way of life; a place of peace – of beauty.  Hills to be climbed; 
a haven to dream in, relax – unwind.
 
Today, as he lazed upon his elbow – drinking in the view,
he unwittingly responded to the Dolphin, the Sturgeon,
and the Red-Crowned Crane...
 
orchids expectantly budding; towns and cities far beyond.
Two million homes, shops, offices and factories –
monkeys swinging in the trees...
 
Instinctively, their fate, they’d come to know,
but how could he envisage, all that lay before him
would soon be lost...in the name of progress
 
to become, not just another  photo – snapped
on his mobile phone. No, more...much more
than this.
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Historical Fiction
Biography
Nature
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by lavadis on

Very true indeed - a snapshot of a harsh future.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks for reading, lavadis...and I fear you are right.

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Hi, Tina, I must say I had forgotten about this project, and it is a good reminder. It did remind me of my musings on the building of the Clywedog reservoir (http://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/losses-and-gains-clywedog-ip), but China's project seems huger, hoping for huge benefits, but some of the concerns huger too I think. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Good morning, Rhiannon. Thank you so much for reading, and for the link.  As you say, China's project is on a vast scale, and the concerns, global, but the reservoir you highlight, is, nonetheless, equally significant in the grand scheme of things.  What the answer is, I don't know, but tampering with nature, so to speak, can, and does have, dire circumstances.

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I've just read your above comment to Rhiannon,  you never spoke truer words.  I've always believed that saying, ' why change something that is working together with nature.'

The words in your poem bring the need to stop all this destruction,  but I fear it's too late.

It's always nice to know there are others who think as I do.

Thank you for sharing this poem Tina.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

And thank you for reading, Jenny.  You know what they say about great minds, don't you?smiley

Have a sunny day, and hopefully dodge the showers.

Tina

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Yes,  this poem contains a dire warning.  Man will never beat nature.  There will always be one bigger wave one stronger wind so why do we think that our defences will negate nature.  The builders of The Titanic thought it was unsinkable yet an iceberg lay in waiting.  I don't know much about the Three Gorges Dam Project, but it sounds like man is once again setting his face against nature.

Moya

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi again, Moya.  

Yes, TheThree Gorges Dam Project, makes for interesting reading.  If you Google it, you'll find out all about it.  It is such a vast project it has been ongoing for quite some years now, and there are some fabulous pictures to see, both before, and after.

'Man will never beat nature'...sure enough, but I wish we could find a way towards some kind of amicable truce.  One day, perhaps, but we have many lessons to learn, I fear, along the way.

Tina