Earthquake Experience - New book of poetry by Hugh L.M. Wyles, released

June 5, 2011 - PRLog -- He watches the events with a practical, critical, no nonsense eye, his faith as strong as ever.

Foreword and Dedication

I am a lifelong resident of Christchurch, (the main South Island City of New Zealand) which I grew to love for its mild climate, its peaceful way of life, its parks and trees, the beauty of its public and private gardens, its level, tree-lined avenues, the ‘Englishness’ of its century-old Gothic, stone buildings, its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, its background of the Port Hills and the wide expanse of the Canterbury Plains which extends to the Southern Alps. It was rightly known as “The Garden City”.

I had only experienced earthquakes during my travels overseas or in the East Coast of our North Island. In my 79th year, however, on September 4th. 2010 at 4.35am, Christchurch suffered its first and worst major earthquake in 88 years. At 7.1 magnitude and centred 25 miles to the West of the city, much damage was caused but there were no fatalities due to its early morning occurrence. Frequent aftershocks, continued to cause damage throughout the following months during which a state of emergency and curfew was enforced. An especially severe aftershock on December 26th (Boxing Day) with magnitude 4.9, occurred at 10.30 am, causing evacuation and closure of crowded shops throughout the city.

Power was cut off and several injuries sustained. Aftershocks continued but restrictions were gradually relaxed. On February 22nd, at 12.55 pm, a second earthquake of 6.3 magnitude, centred at Christchurch’s nearby Port-Town of Lyttelton, caused the loss of 166 lives and severe damage in the central area of Christchurch and in many suburbs where thousands of homes were rendered uninhabitable.

Both our iconic Cathedrals, many suburban churches and other heritage buildings were extensively damaged and a state of civil emergency was again enforced.

Our own New Zealand Rescue and Recovery teams were assisted by teams from Australia, the USA, Japan, the UK and other countries who rushed to our aid.

As a poet, I felt it my duty to record something of this catastrophic event and my feelings in these times while fresh-in-mind as it were, and I am grateful to the team at Aquillrelle for agreeing to compile a selection of my “Earthquake Experiences” in this little booklet which I dedicate, humbly, to the victims of the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and to all those around the world who suffered a similar fate.

Hugh L.M. Wyles, June 1st, 2011


Product Details
ISBN    978-1-4477-3835-0
Copyright    Hugh Wyles (Standard Copyright License)
Publisher    Aquillrelle
Published    June 5, 2011
Language    English
Pages    52
   
Binding    Perfect-bound Paperback
Interior Ink    Full color
Dimensions (inches)    6.0 wide × 9.0 tall

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Aquillrelle is a site dedicated to every poet amongst us – encouraging the type of poetry which is a mix of talent, beauty and expression power. We do it by organizing poetry contests open to all, and biased by nothing but down to earth creativity.