New Zealand’s Great Alpine Fault
earth mobile surface divided into tectonic plates
Alpine fault cross hair connects two subduction margins
New Zealand continent sits on plate boundaries
where ocean floor descends into Earth's mantle
at this point surfaces of two plates making up
South Island alpine fault fatally pressure meets
Pacific Plate on easterly area of New Zealand
is moving westwards Australian Plate on opposing
western side of New Zealand moves eastwards
plates sliding at a relative rate about 45mm per year
plate boundaries mobile move at relative rates as plates
move against each other enormous pressure builds
up must be released through earth movement the result
major quake along New Zealand’s Great Alpine Fault
pressure continually building building now 294 years
since pressure last released a large earthquake in 1717 AD
Christchurch earthquakes now world famous babies
are not expected overdue big one causing vast devastation
next earthquake centered on Alpine Fault is expected
to begin in South Westland a magnitude 8+ event felt
throughout entire South Island as far away as Sydney
just as terror struck Sendai area of Japan without warning
thus will next Great Alpine Fault earthquake strike
South Westland will occur with no recognizable warning?
poem by Terence George Craddock
Added by Poetry Lover
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