A Peculiarly Cantabrian Christmas
On Sept 4th 2010 Christchurch, in the region of Canterbury, South Island New Zealand, suffered a major Earthquake centered at the city of Christchurch.
Since then, the region has endured over 9,000 aftershocks, one of which was more devastating than the original quake with nearly 200 fatalities. Many people have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods.
Yesterday, two days before Christmas, there were two more ~6 aftershocks.
We are a small country and everyone is connected somehow to those people who live in Christchurch and Canterbury.
I live on the North Island and unaffected by the quakes, but I imagined myself in their shoes and this came to me:
A Peculiarly Cantabrian Christmas
(Written vicariously from the North Island (with some inspiration from CC Moore and AJ Patterson))
‘Twas two days before Christmas,when all through the house
Not a thing was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung though chimney not there(1)
In the hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there
Then all of the sudden just out to sea(2)
There was a rumbling noise, what could it be?
We all knew at once, just what is was
Another bloody ‘quake, let’s head for the doors!
The ground under our feet started to heave
And everyone was thinking now, this town we must leave
The Earth spewed up from under the sand
And spread it’s foulness all over the land(3)
It was all over as soon as it started
and the cracks in our houses increasingly parted
Then a little bit later about a quarter to four
Mother nature dished up just a little bit more
Our nerves are frazzled, our spirit down the sink
It’s quite enough to drive a person to drink
Yet our pluck is still undaunted, our courage strong and sure
This will not break us, never yet was a Cantabrian a cur.
So we will carry on with Christmas, whatever Earth sends
We’ll celebrate as usual, with family and friends
And as we think of the people from across Cook Straits(4)
We will feel special wishes from three million good mates(5)
(1)After the first two major quakes, many people’s brick chimneys collapsed.
(2)The epicenter of the quakes was just offshore fro Christcurch
(3)Liquifaction (silt and water rising from underground) has been a major feature of each major quake
(4)Cook Strait is the body of water separating the North Island from the South Island
(5)The approximate population of the North Island
