New York Pitch Conference Reviews, Algonkian Writer Conferences, and Poetry Forums

Koodangulam Power Plant

how does the biggest
safest power plant
start being productive
the way all power plants
planned for the best results
go haywire

the explosion of water
was higher than predicted
something in Nebraska
there was this earthquake in Virginia
Tsunami in Fukushima
what had to be cooled was not
as there was complete power shut down
mad earth splitting
mad sea
mounting

now the best brains from India and Russia
have built up the safest nuclear plant
and it remains shut down
the anti elements of the society
never stop spreading rumors

what happened in Silent Valley happened
now we are twenty five years more advanced
the knowledge of scientists
has multiplied
and now it is time for the latest
project to function.
where I am
we need at least fifteen percent power
from other sources
for that coal
we have to dig deeper
hydraulic power
wind mills
are just not enough
where I am
we have to rely on manmade miracles
to harness energy.

Koodangulam Power Plant--edited version

how does the biggest
safest power plant
start being productive
the way all power plants
planned for the best results
go haywire

the explosion of water
was higher than predicted
something in Nebraska
there was this earthquake in Virginia
Tsunami in Fukushima
what had to be cooled was not
as there was complete power shut down
mad earth splitting
mad sea
mounting

now the best brains from India and Russia
have built up the safest nuclear plant
and it remains shut down
the anti elements of the society
never stop spreading rumors

what happened in Silent Valley happened
now we are twenty five years more advanced
the knowledge of scientists
has multiplied
and now it is time for the latest
project to function.
where I am
we need at least fifteen percent power
from other sources
for that coal
we have to dig deeper
hydraulic power
wind mills
are just not enough
where I am
we have to rely on manmade miracles
to harness energy.

Diva, I like this... but it can be better... the first 2 stanzas are not as clear as the last. I like the clarity and conversational tone of the last stanza...my only suggestion for the close would be to replace the “man made miracles” with something specific.
Just a thought... since we’re all familiar with the disasters of Chernobyl etc., maybe replace the 1st 2 stanzas with energy problems in your own area... with concrete images.

Again, I really really like that last stanza


what happened in Silent Valley happened
now we are twenty five years more advanced
the knowledge of scientists
has multiplied
and now it is time for the latest
project to function.
where I am
we need at least fifteen percent power
from other sources
for that coal
we have to dig deeper
hydraulic power
wind mills
are just not enough
where I am
we have to rely on manmade miracles
to harness energy.

Thanks Bob.Will work on it.

Hi Siva, for myself this reads too much like an editorial, not enough poetics. I want to know about what the lives of the people are like without power, to know better why it is needed.

Very true, It reads like a newspaper. I knew that,or I know that, and thanks for your suggestions.