Frank F. Atanacio Poet Dramatic Verse

Earth-Quake

Before anyone could say another word,
they all heard,
the quake,
a low, slight blow,
ready to grow,
and put on one hell of a show,
it was a distant rumble at first,
it grew rapidly, the buildings shook,
that’s all it took,
as rubble crumbled down,
crushing the ground,
cracking the streets,
and the earth opening at their feet,
upward went the vast soil,
people screaming during the middle of the turmoil,
the split in the earth traveled forward,
racing toward
the horizon,
as it swallowed everything whole,
people huddled close to waving grass,
waiting for the quake to pass,
hopeless, no doubt, frightened,
echoing cracks as trees snapped,
minds confused and briefly trapped.
How much more could the earth take,
As it battles another earth-quake?

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Ernilando Tugaff April 21, 2009 at 12:54 PM Frank, earthquake is a natural catastrophe, calamity, a destroyer. It is indeed scary. Thank you for the warm commnet on my The Orphan. Ernilando

Ernilando Tugaff April 21, 2009 at 12:53 PM Frank, earthquake is a natural catastrophe, calamity, a destroyer. It is indeed scary. Thank you for the warm commnet on my The Orphan. Ernilando

L'Nass Shango April 14, 2009 at 6:37 AM Whether the nature of man, or the nature's land ... you describe our defect with so much potency ... I am almost convinced your eyes can all the details of sin that mars beauty and bring it to the praise of yes. Good write.

April 7, 2009 at 2:43 PM Apt description in this poem. The imagery paints the scene with words. Keep on writing! Thank you for your kind words on my poem. Have a nice day. Karen

Carolyn Devonshire March 26, 2009 at 4:52 PM Sent you a Soup Mail, Frank.

Christopher Higgins March 25, 2009 at 6:04 AM Frankie...I read your comment on Kristin's poem....funny..I made another comment.

Kristin Reynolds March 25, 2009 at 5:25 AM I could feel the earth move - awesome, F. love, Kristin

Arany P. March 25, 2009 at 4:01 AM this is so scary.. how is it that you know how to write something that gets everyone on the edges of their seats?!? ~ Arany

Laurie Ginn March 24, 2009 at 6:30 PM If the earth is opening at your feet do you stay on the side you are on or jump to the other side? What is that line, as labor pains they will become closer and closer together

Charmaine Chircop March 24, 2009 at 4:30 PM you're in carolyn devonshire's soup, poem!see it cos its very nice and she's very kind to add you in her soup spice after you scare us to death with your earth quakes;-)

Carolyn Devonshire March 24, 2009 at 4:25 PM What a vivid image of an earthquake, Frank! Reading this was like watching a movie. I have never lived through an earthquake, but this great poem makes me feel as though I had. Powerful!! Carolyn

Robin L. Gass March 24, 2009 at 3:56 PM Your imagery is frieghtening and so vivid. Being from the north east I have never experienced (thank goodness) an earthquake on a major scale but we had tremors one time and it felt like the house was slipping off its foundation. It scared the heck out of me. Great piece! Love, Robin

Christopher Higgins March 24, 2009 at 2:52 PM Another incredible write.

Charmaine Chircop March 24, 2009 at 2:08 PM ow my sometimes i regret living in my small country,cos i miss the mountains and rivers though we have beautiful sea:-)and sun all year through,i miss all we dont have definitely not the earthquakes,and the way you describe it like its real,i wanna run and hide under my bed,not another earthquake please,very nice write-charma