Mini Earthquake Experiences

Experienced a third bigger earthquake recently but this poem I wrote for a smaller earthquake years ago)

My first trivial tremor experience had been in Southern Africa
And now this puny earthquake I felt in Tanzania. 

I saw every thing waltz to and fro and lightly shake
Bottles turned ballerinas dancing slightly to the quake

I watched glass decors on the walls quiver and jolt
Scaredy me was half asleep, no wonder didn't bolt

I thought I was dreaming or imagining things
My bed and chairs converted into gentle swings. 

All vials and vases 
jiggled to dance a jig
The lil horrors over 
So I cast humor's wig

Ah when began rattling, the knick knacks on my dresser
Was when it dawned upon me in horror
That this was really an early dawn tremor. 

I phoned some friends but those early risers
Hadn't even noticed or felt those tremors
I bet they thought I was spreading false rumours
After all poets are stereotyped as fanciful philosophers. 

My cell phone keypad became my panic button in a flurry
Of course I wanted all to be alerted, alarmed in worry


Nobody believed me until it was announced  in our mosque
And every body was then called by muezzin to pray the signs prayers
Then every body knew the tremor was no hoax
Some patted me for being the first to notice this shaking of earthly layers

Of course I thanked God this was no major earthquake
I've heard in other places how terribly the earth can crack  and shake

Who else but God could I owe my heartfelt gratitude
For this being my 2nd low power tremor in magnitude
As it measured low on the Richter scale
based on the seismic waves' amplitude

But the earth was shaken and I too was shaken
No pics of the shivering axis were taken

Todate runs down my spine such a shiver
On recalling how the mother earth did quiver

I have seen videos of earthquakes where the earth juggles things 
like a salt shaker 
May God protect us from such a waker and breaker
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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12
Goldsmith Avatar
December 30, 2022 at 11:10 AM
I know how you feel. I also went through one in the middle of the night. No one believed me until to news talked it. Happy New Year 2023.........................
Babcock Avatar
May 20, 2021 at 5:48 PM
I have never been in an earthquake so that would be a very frightening experience. So glad it was minor with only a slight shaking. Well written and described in this poem. love phyl
De Beaulieu Avatar
March 14, 2021 at 6:42 PM
Hello S.zaynab Kamoonpuri, oh S. zaynab it must have been frightening for you to go through this experience Was ther damage done? Enjoy your evening my friend.
Rodrigues Avatar
November 20, 2020 at 5:37 AM
I was in a pretty good earthquake back in the 1980’s. It was a humdinger!
Gregory Avatar
November 11, 2020 at 6:33 PM
its frightening to experience, and you have captured a human element of humor and that's refreshing. nicely done.
One Avatar
October 31, 2020 at 8:58 AM
Hey, long time no see.. Hope you are ok
Kamoonpuri Avatar
October 31, 2020 at 11:30 AM
Aw hii thanks for asking, yeah I'm well thanks to God, I hope you are well too, so nice of you to remember me.
Kelii Kekaula Avatar
October 3, 2020 at 3:37 PM
Such events us yearly on my volcanic island of Hawaii as the others in the chain has gone dormant, your depiction is quite vividly detailed my friend, blessings on your honorable placement, Aloha! William
Kamoonpuri Avatar
October 15, 2020 at 10:03 AM
Thanks soo much for appreciating my description efforts with a fine second place trophy badge., cheers and best wishes.
Scott Avatar
September 19, 2020 at 12:59 AM
Epic scary .times mother nature fighting back hope you well xx
Kamoonpuri Avatar
September 19, 2020 at 3:34 AM
Yeah I'm well thanks to God. Thanks soo much for your comment, yeah this is the scariest year for many,what with the virus, quakes, political turmoil, and other planet roasting slime locust swarms that I heard of. Stay safe, best wishes.
Kiser Avatar
September 5, 2020 at 8:56 AM
Earthquakes, big or small are still terrifying when you experience them. You pen this well with good imagery and I can almost feel that quake.
Carmack Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 11:13 PM
What experience that must have been. Your writing does well taking us there.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 11:18 PM
Thanks so much for your nice super comment! Best wishes,
Kiser Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 9:55 PM
Indeed, may God protect us, this is quite well penned, intense with great imagery and powerful feeling.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 10:29 PM
Hey thanks yes May God protect us all , I'm just so happy you acknowledged Him, all nice people do. Thanks soo much for your feedback.
Sands Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 3:37 AM
Very well written with so many great..detailed descriptions. It fully shows what the earthquake is like to experiemce. :)
Kamoonpuri Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 4:14 AM
Warmest thanks for feedback, I'm glad if you think I pictured it well enough. Take care and stay safe!
Bateman Avatar
August 31, 2020 at 10:43 AM
Hello Zaynab!! Your latest poem here is quite interesting and relevant to what's going on in our world today. Your verses reflect the tragedy at hand and the trauma it caused as it unfolded. Be Careful . . . Be Safe . . . And Keep Writing!! You have wondrous talent and much to share with everyone in the poetry community. (I will keep you posted on when my second book is published, hopefully, before the end of this year.) Cheers and Best Wishes, Gary (P.S. God Bless!!)
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 31, 2020 at 10:10 PM
Thanks soo much for your positive great comment, you are a fine poet yourself! Best wishes...
Riabi Dziri Avatar
August 31, 2020 at 8:26 AM
May Allah bless you too dear Zaynab.. it is my pleasure to read your profound thoughts and feelings into a rich poetry.. I am from Tunisia which is in North Africa.. and I live there.. my honour and delight.. Best regards and blessings.
Carber Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 10:40 AM
Love that image:' Bottles turned ballerinas!' I experienced several minor quakes over the years--one in Tokyo, another as I was driving with my wife along the Big Sur in California, and the whole car shook! I thought the engine was dropping out! And 2 in New Jersey! The last one shook my recliner like a rocking chair-- yeah, kinda scary, but a good reminder that nothing is solid in the temporal world....
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 31, 2020 at 3:31 AM
Oh my that's noteworthy and interesting how you describe them ,so you experienced several minor ones eh!! And your last line oh so true , great and notable too. Thanks soo much for fine comment, I love to hear people's true stories.
Riabi Dziri Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 3:00 AM
Though it is so beautifully and poetically depicted, earthquake is one of the most appalling and devastating reaction of Mother Nature.. an extremely frightening experience a human being can endure! I have experienced one, if I can remember in the seventies when I was at home with my family. we kept praying for mercy from God and repeating what my Mather was asking of God.. May the Almighty Allah bless all Humanity. Wonderful rendition, Zaynab! You have the power to render the mundane to beauty!
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 31, 2020 at 3:26 AM
Aww loving thanks dearest sis for finding poetic beauty in the phenomenon here. Nice to know you prayed too during your experience . I was wondering where you live. Take care and may Allah bless you.
La France Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 4:01 PM
Zaynab, that was for sure a scary experience- happy to hear that it was not worst for you. I have also experienced an earthquake in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, apparently we are on a vault line and one day we will get a big one but the small one we had still scared me, you described the experience well, exactly how it felt, when your building shakes your whole world seems insecure well that's how I felt, great write _Constance
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 9:59 PM
Yeah it sure does feel very insecure and leaves you shaky even if a small one, I'm glad this evoked memories in a relatable way but that yours was also minor so no harm happened. Warmest thanks, take care!!
Ball Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 3:33 PM
WoW! I have been lucky enough to never have experienced an earthquake. Lots of hurricanes and a few tornados but thank God the Almighty One not earthquakes. Great expression here and wonderful description. God Bless my friend. JB
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 9:56 PM
Woah I would love to see a tornado from a safe distance, they are very scary and destructive I hear. Yeah you lucky to never have experienced an earthquake though I don't mind mild tremors even though you can fear it would turn into a major. Warmest thanks for your lovely comment. Blessings, take care.
Rose  Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 3:15 PM
It can be a very shaky experience to be in one, and you have described it so well, Thankyou for sharing your talent today.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 9:53 PM
Warmest thanks for feedback, yes it leaves you shakened even if a lil quake. Take care.
Pinet Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 11:23 AM
A traumatic experience indeed, may God keep you safe my friend, Emile.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 1:49 PM
Yeah thrilling and scary, glad it lasts for a minute or less or we'd all panic. Thanks soo much fir the prayer line, I wish you safety and health too poet. Best wishes,
Kelii Kekaula Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 11:13 AM
On the island of Hawaii, my home, Kilauea erupted from 1983 until 2018, 35 years making it the longest continually erupting volcano in history. Earthquakes are a constant reminder, lava flows destroyed whole villages, I made a video on my YouTube website: https://youtu.be/Z849L_5twsE Your Mount Kilimanjaro is picturesque. You paint years of experience from your on point theme, my bottles too, pirouettes a shelf, vases tip too tired to dance. Yes my friend, 'tis our mirrored life, Aloha! William
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 1:47 PM
Wow you tell of such an interesting amazing phenomenon, you mean it was a constantly erupting for all those years ?!! And earthquakes too oh my God, you sure have seen more. I've had only 3 minor earthquakes lasting seconds or a minute each. Your ending lines so poetic added to my poem fabulously. Aloha yay cheers thanks soo much for comment.
One Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 10:13 AM
I hope God protects you.. You live in Tanzania? I hear it is very beautiful...
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 1:42 PM
Yeah I'm settled here in Tanzania now , you have a good memory to remember that, from my poem perhaps . Yes so very beautiful, maybe you should visit sightseeing. I guess you are from the U.S or Canada? Thanks soo much for the prayer line, I wish you health and happiness, stay safe poet!
Pandit Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 9:33 AM
Your rhyming poem eloquently depicts the experience many will relate to. Splendid description of emotional dialogue facing danger--I felt the event in your words.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Hi poet Vijay, thanks soo much for a fine great comment, even your comment is phrased eloquently.
Callus Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 5:56 AM
Very descriptive and with a witty touch added to it, Zaynab. I experienced such a tremor and my bed moved across the room! ~ Regards // paul
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 8:03 AM
Oh my was yours a bigger earthquake then I wonder. My bed just swayed from side to side slightly. I'm glad you notice the humor wit i employed to lighten the incident. Thanks soo much, cheers!
May Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 5:13 AM
I have been in one myself you do have a feeling of helplessness, well done!
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 29, 2020 at 8:01 AM
Oh yeah helplessness against something so powerful is naturally common. Thanks so much for your thoughts on this!
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