You may recognize Ian Burden’s name from the prompts page photo credits: he is the photographer of Frames as Sunset, which ran earlier this summer and is expected to appear as part of another prompts anthology later this year. Ian is getting back to writing after some time away. He travels frequently and is currently working in Europe. You will see more of his work (photos and poetry!) in the months ahead. The combination of expository tone and experiential language gives this poem its power.
Stress Fractured
By Ian Burden
Unpredictable contradiction
Between Crust’s friction
Instantly jerks, slips, slides
And resettles
After stress can take no more
On land or ocean’s floor
The power of earth is gigantic
Its consequences Titanic
Its tsunami waves slick
Shudders, erupts quick
Brick upon brick
Fatal blow, stab and kick
Indiscriminately kills
Rich, poor, alike,
Healthy and sick
Nice! Sounds like a slice of life.