Fortnightly Poem 11.B (Karen’s)
Because it’s that time of the year, and the approach of El Niño making us all remember the dark side of hotter summers, I thought I’d share this unpublished poem, written after my choir (The Chocolate Lilies) sang for the annual ‘Blessing of the Fleet…’
Fire Prevention Blessing of the Fleet (unpublished)
Tiny Mediterranean fishing villages did it
The local priest in trailing black robes
chanting, incanting
Blessing the fleet
before the season
Solemnly sprinkling the ships
with holy water
ensuring a plentiful catch and calm seas
And so at the start of our summer
before our ‘season’
we too have a ‘blessing’ --
a collection of multi- faith priests
praise their gods:
(the only, the all powerful, we beseech him)
and spruike their piety
chanting in Hindi or Tibetan and English–
ensuring protection from danger, and a mild summer
An eclectic mix of jeans, headscarves and saffron robes
significantly all women
except for our three Buddhists
exotic in varying shades of hand-dyed russet cloth
bare feet and thongs
in this bitey Spring wind
ensuring an asthetes place in heaven
Only one of our religious leaders
whilst praying for their safe return
actually thanked our brave volunteers
who overcome terror
put themselves ‘in harms way’
risking their lives to save others…
She, stressing how her god loves
those who help others, most of all
better than nothing, I thought
I wondered how many of the firies, ambos, cops and SES volunteers
believed these prayers
would moderate the weather
would save them
from the flaming tree falling
to block their path
would prevent communication breakdown
between head-office and the fire front
or really thought the holy water
sprinkled on the fire trucks
would provide any protection
in a roaring furnace
but like me, they all solemnly bowed their heads
Maybe the ritual itself was tribute to them:
dignitaries, a choir and a lavish lunch
The multi-faith group
(despite the competition for souls)
honoured our mutli-cultural community
who are maybe more credulous
than we cynical Aussies
Our choir all come from bushfire zones
maybe saw this as a way of thanking
our real saviours
And who doesn’t want to hedge their bets?