The River that Drowned (I.P.)

Helo Tina! This is wonderfull & I really like this part; nature
made a pact with these, its gorges;

had assured the River Yangtze,
the valleys were its cradle
and in their purple shadow
where people fished,
washed their clothes,
it would always flow...

A way of life; a place of peace –
of beauty. Hills to be climbed;
a haven to dream in, relax – unwind.

I will miss those monkeys!
As you are so good at explaining for me, would you mind, what xactli is vista? Kahdai xx

Thanks so much for reading, Kahdai;-)

You might find it very enlightening to look this project up on Google, or whichever search engine you prefer. I.e. 'China's Three Gorges Dam Project." It is awesome, but very controversial.

As to your question, 'vista', simply means 'view'. If you want anything else explaining, you know where I am;-)

Tina xx

Thank-yu Tina ;) xx K O, I wikipedia, & goodness me, I see, it is half for good, yet already done the damage & landslides to cause more! The monkey part I thought, a bit like my I.P.?

You are so right about the landslides, Kahdai, unfortunately. It seems as if the Chinese have opened a 'Pandora's Box'. But I hope I am wrong.

Shall take a look at your I.P. later, Kahdai, monkeys and all, but first I have housework to finish;-)

Tina xx

I don't know about that, I just hope they aren't taken as a good thing & copied. Well, ok mine isnt monkeys though :)

'the valleys were its cradle
and in their purple shadow
where people fished,
washed their clothes,
it would always flow...'

- love these lines, Tina! Beautiful images as always ;) I really like how the poem is split into past and present, like two different freeze-frames - as you capture brilliantly with that last line ;) Well done!

Magic xxx

It's nice to see someone writing about this - the first one I've seen.

I agree it's a tricky paradox. On the one hand the flooded valleys and mass enforced migration. On the other hand if it fails, a frightening equivalent required in terms of coal or nuclear power.

I was loosely involved in some research related to the human impact which was significant, although their govt had done a very large amount to try to reduce this (more than a lot of govts might). I still remain confused as to how I feel about it.

So a paradox, as you say, but what else is art there for but to find a way around this? I'm glad you took it on.

Rob

So pleased you liked this one, Magic. I have been interested in this project of China's for a few years now, and have extremely mixed feelings about it. It would seem that apart from the obvious need to generate more electricity for their ever growing population as 'cleanly' as possible, there seems to be a desire to build a construction similar to The Great Wall, i.e. to make the only other manmade creation which can be seen from space.

Currently, I know the Chinese are experiencing serious repercussions from this ongoing project,mainly from landslides, and only time will tell the true effect on the environment the building of this vast dam will have. Many rare species of plants and animals have already been wiped out, and that, in itself, is quite devastating.

Thanks again for your interest, Magic;-) Have a good week.

Tina xx

Rob - your informed comment meant the world to me. Thank you so very much. It made posting it all the more worthwhile.

I shall continue to follow its progress as best I can and during which time I shall endeavour to keep an open mind but as you say, it is indeed a paradox.

The work that you did relating to this project sounds extremely interesting. Maybe you could write about it one day? I should be more than keen to read it.

Tina

beautiful and incredibly intelligent, I love the juxtaposition of the beginning about being raised amongst nature and then there's the reference to modern technology, the mobile phone at the end. Style wise this poem flows beautifully, like a river and comes to an abrupt stop as the phone is shut...gaah I love it!

Thank so very much, maggy. Your words mean much and I am so pleased you realised the essence of this piece.

Tina;-)

Incidentally, I think the great wall being visible from space (or the only man made object visible from space) is supposed to be a myth (but a nice one, nonetheless).

Hi there, rj;-)

I guess as far as the Chinese are concerned, 'The China Daily' reported that 'one can see the Great Wall of China from a low orbit and under favourable conditions...if one knows what to look for' and have got a camera with far greater resolution than the naked eye, one would suspect;-)

Ah well, ignorance always has been bliss and as you say, where would be without a little myth, here and there, to liven life up a bit.

Have a great weekend.

Tina

New Silver-Spun-Sand
Well earn't cherry!
I had read it previous day
and it is so interesting,
but I don't know anything about it.
And never been abroad.So only just
congratulating you have a good week-end
Foxes are coming in land it's waste bins
I feel.Daughter's seen them near her,and
a few other's to areas.
julie xx

Hi there Julie, and thanks for reading. If you want to find out more about this, just type 'China's Three Gorges Dam Project' into google and you will learn all the facts, plus see some amazing pictures.

Have a good day and I hope the foxes don't cause too much trouble. We have them here too, but in all honesty, our Red Kite (once a rare bird but now quite common) kills far more creatures than the fox does, of which we have many.

tina xxx

Strange a few years ago where I lived am sure it was red kites were trying to save from extinction? I really like foxes & atleast they cant rip wheelie bins open all down the road, I think if they are in rubbish tips & round the railways(lots of rabbits), they'll be fine.

You are right, Kahdai - the red kite was almost extinct, but conversationists set to work and they did a good job. We have a pair around here and they also have offspring this year, so that is a very encouraging.

As for foxes, I think the urban fox is very different from the country one, of which, where I live we have quite a few. They are wonderful looking creatures and their cubs are so adorable.

Tina xx

New Silver-Spun-Sand
Thankyou,yes,I'll try that.I have a book bought
called "Sacred places" just before Borders closed
an author tells about,story and signs them.The colours are out of this world bit about Tibetans have I spelt it right.Sun rises and mountains.Well when daughter was young moved near our home,rabbits and things in garden,unfortunately dead etc;in cages.Usually out in the fields.Or wilds.I got hit by seagull coming from homeless writing group,it was in the paper had to look sad,but missed out the poem.daughter cut my hair very short.Did I say Ray had to re-boot computer other day took hours. mustn't moan.
hope your well. Thankyou.Sound as if you get a lot of rare birds in your area.Not heard the Cuckoo.
have a nice week-end.Thankyou Tina,I clicked on but
only seemed to get a couple of pictures any advice please could be computer re-loading most of time.
julie xx

Yes I think foxes are beautiful, I always love orange colours, they are too afraid of people in our countryside to let me picture one for long, still after the chickens though! K xx

Yes, you are right, Kahdai. Foxes and chickens don't mix. Not successfully anyway. Hope you are having a good week;-)

T xx