LVX CREARE

The poem ‘To The Hills’ was written some years ago, after my Grandmother told us again about her experiences of the 1987 Edgcumbe Earthquake.

As a teacher, she responded to the violent shaking by calmly leading her class (along with her colleagues) in to the hills around the sleepy, sun drenched mill town of Kawearu. My Grandfather, the school Principal and St. John’s Ambulance organiser also went about selflessly looking after others before the needs of his own family.

The most striking and memorable thing for me about this, was the story of the family dog; who was left tethered to the base of a Silver Birch tree which grew (and still grows today) in the front yard of their home. She was such a loyal dog, and although I never knew her, or the setting; I can imagine how she fretted beneath that tree, worrying for her Mother and Father. The loyalty of animals in times of strife.

Although she survived for several more years, she was killed on the road outside that very home and my Grandmother lamented that she was the one who bore the task of picking her up and wrapping her for burial. Whenever we’ve passed that same tree, she recalls those two memories. This week again she mentioned the story and I’d fogotten that this poem was lying in a notebook somewhere.

Sentimental as it may be, I cannot help but think of that little dog and smile when I do.