NEVER SAY NEVER - The Christchurch quake

[Maureen K Clifford]

NEVER SAY NEVER

In the city of churches 'midst the dirt and dust and rubble,
speaking to the trapped and dying was a solitary man.
Solitary just in presence, for there were folks all around him
though they didn’t seem to notice that he held a bloodied hand.
A sniffer dog stopped briefly and his plumy tail did wave
and his pink tongue licked the old man’s kindly face.
Not than anybody noticed, they were busy saving lives
and so was he. He helped them find a state of grace.

All around was frantic hurry, all around was grim despair..
but an air of calm surrounded this old bloke.
Whilst you noticed his lips moving, you never heard a word
and no time he took out for cuppa or smoke.
Then he stood and made a sign across his chest, his head was bowed
a tear slithered down his dark and dusty face;
slowly he scrambled over scattered rubble on the ground
then he stooped and sat. He’d found another place.

My mate works for the papers taking photographs and shots,
he had taken many photographs round there,
and he showed me all his footage – ‘twas enough to make one weep
when you saw the damage, carnage and despair.
The spire from the Cathedral was a tangled, tortured wreck,
there were bricks and plaster scattered everywhere.
Crushed cars, and buses, flung aside as if of no account
as if some tyrant played without due care.

I asked him where the old bloke was – I saw him there on site
but his face in not one photograph appeared.
My mate said that he hadn’t even noticed an old bloke,
yet I was right beside him watching as he peered
through the lenses of his camera, checking angles and light
for his photo. Indeed I was sure of that.
One photo showed as clear as day the yellow Labrador
with tail waving – standing right where the bloke sat..

One lass pulled from the rubble – a miracle in itself
said a fellow held her hand – said to be brave,
and told her not to worry everything would be alright
they would get her out from ‘neath her concrete grave.
He stayed with her a long time, never showed a trace of fear
though she felt the movement of the earth below.
He never left her side until rescuers got her out
but when she went to thank him none had seen him go.

I heard repeated often this story over the days
and weeks that followed . There’s no explanation.
For no one working on the sites can recollect the bloke.
Not one person saw him midst the devastation.
I reckon he’s a visitor that most folks cannot see
though the dogs all seemed to know that he was there.
I think he’s walked amongst us in our times of desperation
giving strength and hope to those without a prayer.

Maureen Clifford © 02/11

[william williams]

Thank You Maureen Life moves in a very strange way and who is to say that is not so
thanks once again Maureen

Bill the old battler

[Heather]

Really lovely Maureen. The scene in Christchurch is heartbreaking and there are so many brave souls risking their lives to find those trapped.

Heather

[Maureen K Clifford]

thanks bill and Heather - one would certainly like to think that in circumstances like this somebody was on your side in that department - so many brave people trying to help and so many even braver people (read there may still be survivors) trying to hang on. Lets hope they can....and then like Australia and Australians...time to rebuild, lives, dreams and cities.

Cheers

Maureen