Presented below is the sixth day of the Loma Prieta “Earthquake Collage” written by Robert Sward, a poet and novelist, from his work with students and faculty and staff at Cabrillo College. (Move on to Day 7, or back to Day 4 (there’s no Day 5).)
Sunday, October 22, Day 6
Wake G., and try to get out of bed, but the house is moving too much to go anywhere.
According to today’s San Francisco Examiner, there have been over 2,500 aftershocks or tremors since October 17. At times it feels as if Santa Cruz is in a war zone and we are under bombardment. With police, rescue workers and news people in helicopters flying low over our heads night and day, that feeling gets pretty intense… vibration from the helicopters causing further damage to chimneys, etc., weakened by the 7.1 quake.
My daughter calls from Miami… reassure her that “Yes, we’re okay,” fearing that, in the midst of conversation, another tremor will hit and I’ll have to break off the call–and worry her more.
“Listen, honey,” I say at last, “The world, it turns out, is still under construction.” * “Listen, Earth,” I say, “we had an agreement…” Earth with a crowbar still looting and pulling people out of their cars. Smack!
***
Leave a Reply