Chicxulub
I may never get to the Yucatan
to touch the KT boundary at its thickest
that iridium layer exposed
like a line of fat in the tastiest bacon
yet this was where the asteroid slammed,
when the dinosaurs were fried
atomised or blasted by the wind;
when Cretaceous gave way to Tertiary
and little shrews crawled out
into a scene like a nuclear winter.
Chicxulub— how the strange name grates
like the sound of the still ringing earth.
Merely saying it, I get a sense of deja vu,
like a sudden blinding flash
where I glimpse the endless burials
high on the mountain of Kailash
screened on some future sky
image and poem © copyright dfbarker 2012
painting clearly not of Chicxulub but of a scene much nearer to home, namely Hunstanton, where there is at least visible strata in the cliffs.
Hi David
It might happen again… that feeling is, what this poem tells me.
Hunstanton or Chicxulub, lovely painting as ever! 🙂
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Thank you Ina! Hope you are well. Yes, it will happen at some stage, I’m grateful for your comments.
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Hi David
This is a great poem and I love the line
“that iridium layer exposed
like a line of fat in the tastiest bacon”
but it scares me too!!!! 🙂
Christine
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Wow – what feeling in this poem! Lovely painting also.
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DF, your painting beautifully lifts the eye to the cliffs and then up to the memories of long-dead creatures sending up their spirits still to remind us, always remind us. Your poem matches the painting perfectly, as usual.
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My brother in law is from Yucatan,
he has told me many stories.
This poem takes me there
reminding me all things pass
yet such beauty arises from the ash
although the painting isn’t of that place
it has a brilliant color across the cliffs
Perfect!
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Your poem invoked “a sense of deja vu” in me, David. We forget what this planet has been through… and what it will no doubt go through again.
(You also made me want to travel to the Yucatan and view this place myself – but like you, I probably never will.)
Beautiful painting!
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You are nothing if not a very versatile poet! I loved the imagery…”like a line of fat in the tastiest bacon”–perfect visual! I love the colors in the painting, as well. Debra
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Thank you very much Christine!
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Thank you so much, I’m grateful!
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Granbee, thank you!
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Raven, thank you – I’m grateful for you lovely comments.
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Betty, thank you again!!!
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You are very kind, thank you!
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science and poetry need to talk more. Really. thanks for a good well-written read (and aren’t sciencey words great; “iridium” 🙂 )
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Thank you for your comments, I’m grateful to you!
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Put this one in your book of your best…
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Thank you Lindy!
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excellent poem and beautiful painting combined makes a joy to read.
Ciao, Francina .
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Francina, thank you so much!
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You are a brilliant poet.
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I love the imagery you created as well the paintings…
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Thank you!
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Interesting…and excellent! Again, the colors in the painting pull me right in.
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Thank yo so much, you are so kind!!!
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