Eighty Nine
copyright 1989
as we all tumbled and turned and the ground
continued to shake.
It seemed to most - the end might be near
eyes told the story - of fright and fear.
Some were having their first quake experience
watching things lean and roll around - hence.
The ground moved like waves on the ocean
back and forth - up and down - gyrating - like
nothing before in my recollection.
After the initial shock was through
we went outside to survey for damage and check
on others we knew.
Standing just outside our little home,
looking around
the ground decided to rock and roll again as
we listened for a crashing sound.
Soon things seemed to get right again
looking around we checked for damaged
things then.
We seemed to quite gyrating about
as up the street we heard someone shout -
FIRE - FIRE - call - NINE - ONE - ONE -
as those with a hose or extinguisher
started to run.
You could see the smoke rising at the end
of the next street
neighbors ran to help - a home to save - a fire
to deplete.
There wasn't much damage in our
little neighborhood
a few tipped coolers - water heaters tumbled
from where they stood.
And some days later
we felt we might be out of the woods -
no more vibtator.
We had survived the Great Quake of 1989
here at our humble home -
in the northern California sunshine..