But We Are A Tired People

Life was on hold during the volcanic crisis. People were forced to live for years without a sense of home or security about what the next day would bring.

Frequent ashfall was just one of the many challenges for people on island. Credit: Peter Filleul

Resilient People

‘But we are a tired people
tired of packing
tired of moving
tired of sheltering
tired of coping
tired of behaving civilized

So don’t
Don’t tell me how well you think I am coping
with “the situation”
because you see me on CNN and BBC
going to church and praising God
cause in my heart sometimes (God forgive me)
I blaspheme.
Yes I challenge the Man to a duel in town
Let him burst Galway’s wall and face my
stressed up rage

…I.. tired

tired of zoning
tired of relocating
tired of re-organizing
tired of stressing
tired of coping
tired of smiling…with ash on my teeth’

– Extract from poem 'Resilient People' by Chadd Cumberbatch In Cumberbatch, Chadd. Ya Ya Surfeit. Fabwan, 2010.