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Notes About The Poem

Poetic Form: Rhyme
Inspired: 2024 April 11

 

*1st Place*
Wistful, Write, Weep, Whisper Words
Contest Judged: 2024 April 12
Sponsored by: Constance La France

 

Image: Pu'u O'o Vent, Kalapana Village succumbed mostly in 1990, the church/village, was built on an abutment that rose slightly higher, our home was behind the church (photo of the church and hardened black sea of lava still bubbling/rising and soon will cover the rest of what's left of the village). The village was built on a flat surface slight incline and as such, the flow crawled, slowness caused it to harden and it built-up in that process, civil engineers present at every home before their engulfed, estimated the wall of lava to be 60 feet that will take our home, we stayed until the lava reached near the house where the car is parked, then we left/chose not to watch our home...

Wistful

"Wistful/Wishful: sometimes if a word can ever be realized, just an 'alphabet' change will suffice," ... by the Poet

The coconuts have gone awry,
and its fronds they seemed to deny,
their stumped stilts beaches pierce the sky,
an empty beach where birds fly by,
no imprint sole of surfing guy,
except I write the reasons why,
appropriate it with a sigh.

It's because of the lava flow,
in "83 nobody knows,
but then it started the big show,
at first, 'twas small and started slow,
until it grown, and grow, and grow,
the forest like a mower, mow,
night sky turned an orangey glow.

Since "83 it kept its pace,
it filled the ridge, a lengthy space,
then poured downhill like in a race,
the town lay at the mountain base,
lava came, the town prayed then braced,
home after home, place after place,
pierce a lifetime shown on their face.

The mountain lava met the sea,
wherefrom my hometown used to be,
everyone is an absentee,
all now have a new addressee,
and they are new hometown adoptees,
how can poetic words air-free,
for one who's wistful presently.

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Constance La France Date: 4/22/2024 11:45:00 AM Hilo, congratulations on your win in my contest with this spectacular poem, I like the images and quote too, Constance Login to Reply Hilo Poet Date: 4/22/2024 2:51:00 PM Thanks a bunch, Constance, and ditto on that quote, Aloha, William

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 4/19/2024 2:23:00 AM - Mother Nature really has powers...a terrible experience, William - Thank God, everyone has a new address now - A great poem - Congratulations on your win in the contest :) - hugs Login to Reply Hilo Poet Date: 4/19/2024 2:59:00 AM Yes, it's her nature to be herself. My parents had another home, which is where I'm now in Hilo town. There was another uphill where I fell into a coma, an event I chose not to be reminded of--I had it torn down. The way I wrote this piece was concise and simple--words fell onto the keyboard, easy-like. Thanks, Anne-Lise and enjoy your blessings, my friend. Aloha, William

Paula Goldsmith Date: 4/12/2024 2:36:00 PM Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful "Wistful" write/story/great picture. A sad time... Have a wonderful weekend............. Login to Reply Hilo Poet Date: 4/12/2024 3:21:00 PM Many thanks from me and my former neighbors of old Kalapana Village, Paula. Blessed Aloha, William.