Victor Buhagiar Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

   

Oil Spill

Note this poem was written some time ago but I was sick and deleted my site.  I have been patiently reposting my poems since 9 October 2000.

On November 13, 2002. The Prestige, one of twelve tanks burst during a storm off Galicia, in northwestern Spain.  No help was forthcoming and by November 19, the ship split in half.  20 million gallons were spilled into the sea.  


Beneath the heavy dark clouds,
the storm broke.
An oil-filled tanker sank
spewing black lakes of murderous slime.
 
What a giant "Prestige"!

Despite the roar of untamed waves
there was a deadly hush over the ocean.
A low death knell sang a purgatory of pain,
as contaminated birds of gulls, orioles, kestrels 
squawked their last dirge:

What a giant "Prestige"!

Too late men stretched their ingenuity,
a desire to save and spare
the livelihood of so many families
that sailed the oil-spilled seas,
where baby dead fish dotted the surface,
sands and rocks tainted with death.
Elsewhere engineers burned their chemical gases
and smoke escaped from the earth's fragile shell.
 
We all have our "Prestige"!

Written 2016

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Jennifer Proxenos February 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM An oil spill is disastrous to marine life in the ocean. It devastates and murders and furthermore pollutes shorelines on which the stench of death is washed up on. People seem to call for help, but people also ignore it. Help others and it will boomerang back to you. If shared responsibility is not realized on our planet soon, we will surely sink. Be well dear friend Victor, hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

I Am Anaya February 16, 2024 at 9:12 AM Victor, I didn't know that you were going through such a stressful time, reposting poems on your site, I know how devastating and time consuming it can be. I recall an oil spill in Britain, and no help as well. I watched as the oil spilled for days and had anxiety for a time. Glad you posted this free verse, I liked the repeated lines, dramatic, disastre! xo

Daniel Henry Rodgers February 13, 2024 at 5:02 AM Victor, your poem about the Prestige oil spill is haunting and powerful. The words are stark, the contrast between "heavy dark clouds" and "black lakes of murderous slime" describing a haunting tragedy. And the concluding line, "We all have our 'Prestige,'" is a chilling call to action, showing us our shared responsibility to protect our planet. - I am glad you posted this poem, and it is wonderfully done! Blessings, Daniel

Mike Gentile February 13, 2024 at 4:25 AM Victor, your verse so poetically portrays that horrific tragedy. Yet, the last short line carries so much weight and bags so much contemplation for me! So much deeper meaning! Excellent write!

Panagiota Romios February 13, 2024 at 3:55 AM Love the picture above, Wow Great piem and imagert, Pangie

Bill Baker February 12, 2024 at 8:38 PM A heartfelt accurate description of the tragedy a spill like this can cause. I could feel the concern you have for the creatures in nature and to the many humans that this effected, Victor. Thanks for sharing your poetry with us. It doesn't matter when you wrote it, it's always meaningful poetry. Have a pleasant week, my friend. Bill

Hilda Greenhough February 12, 2024 at 5:10 PM Thank you for a poem of caring. In the lore of the American Indian, the animals are our brothers and sisters on earth.

Evelyn Judy Buehler February 12, 2024 at 4:34 PM Victor, I'm glad you reposted this very meaningful poem, which is so relevant still. Though sad, it is a wake up call. It illustrates how careless acts can have such dire and far reaching consequences. Best wishes.

Joseph May February 12, 2024 at 4:30 PM A powerful write and the toll it took on sea life, Very sad, Well penned

Anne-Lise Andresen February 12, 2024 at 11:51 AM - It was enormous, amounts to a lot of damage... more than we think, Victor - hugs

Regina Mcintosh February 12, 2024 at 11:02 AM This is horrible. So awful, like Kim said. God bless you Victor. Love, Gina

Kim Rodrigues February 12, 2024 at 9:26 AM So awful! Calamity for the sea creatures.

Eve Roper February 12, 2024 at 9:23 AM My middle son was in Kuwait at the time when Saddan Hussein spill the oil in the waters. Of course flames were above. My son was on ship when it was put on fire , but did get smoking halation from it. I’m just glad I was able to get my son back.

Sara Kendrick February 12, 2024 at 9:04 AM I enjoyed reading this one. I can't remember if I read it before or not, but those oil spills do happen and it is not good for the environment for sure, so it is not good for us in the long run. Thanks for sharing this one with us and for stopping by my page. Sara K

Andrea Dietrich February 12, 2024 at 8:22 AM How ironic the name Prestige. I bet I had commented to this fine poem before

Vijay Pandit February 12, 2024 at 6:09 AM Your theme is as relevant now as it was then. Glad you posted your poem, Victor--as it highlights human role in damaging the environment and awakens us to action. Powerful write!

Ink Empress February 12, 2024 at 4:23 AM As always your diverse pen has a way of putting forward real life issues and experiences in the most eloquent manner. This poem hits strong and is very well delivered in such a descriptive rhythm. I felt the depth of what youv conveyed here . You always write about so many different topics! Truly impressive how you do that! Powerful! Pleasure reading this dear victor

Maria Williams February 12, 2024 at 3:36 AM What a disaster that was, I still remember it to this day; what a caring reminder you have penned, dear Victor; one hopes a disaster like that will never happen again. 20 million gallons oil spill, shocking! Hugs

Jan Allison February 12, 2024 at 12:32 AM Bravo for posting this one Victor, the devastation caused by such a disaster has such a massive devastating impact on the wildlife and surroundings but it quickly gets forgotten. Hugs Jan xx Victor Buhagiar February 12, 2024 at 1:29 AM Oil spills are still going on, it seems.