1987: Hurricane winds batter 1987: Hurricane winds batter southern Englandsouthern England

Southern Britain has begun a massive clear-Southern Britain has begun a massive clear-up operation after the worst night of storms up operation after the worst night of storms in living memory. At least 13 people are in living memory. At least 13 people are known to have died and many dozens have known to have died and many dozens have been injured, mostly by falling trees and been injured, mostly by falling trees and buildings. buildings. Rescue workers faced an unprecedented Rescue workers faced an unprecedented number of call-outs as winds hit 94 mph (151 number of call-outs as winds hit 94 mph (151 km/h) in the capital and over 110 mph (177 km/h) in the capital and over 110 mph (177 km/h) in the Channel Islands. km/h) in the Channel Islands.

Hurricane Hits EnglandHurricane Hits England

Grace NicholsGrace Nichols

It took a hurricane, to bring her closerIt took a hurricane, to bring her closerTo the landscape.To the landscape.

Half the night she lay awake,Half the night she lay awake,The The howling ship of the windhowling ship of the wind,,

Its gathering rage,Its gathering rage,Like some Like some dark ancestral spectredark ancestral spectre..

Fearful and Fearful and reassuringreassuring..

Why 3rd person?

An effective metaphor?

How do these words make you feel?

Why would something so fearful be ‘reassuring’?

Talk to me HuracanTalk to me HuracanTalk to me OyaTalk to me Oya

Talk to me ShangoTalk to me ShangoAnd Hattie,And Hattie,

My sweeping, back-home cousin.My sweeping, back-home cousin.

Why repeat the word?

Is this possible?

Who/what are these names of?

Tell me why you visitTell me why you visitAn English coast?An English coast?

What is the meaningWhat is the meaningOf Of old tonguesold tonguesReaping havoc Reaping havoc In new places?In new places?

Command

How is the hurricane a reminder of ‘old tongues’?

The blinding illumination,The blinding illumination,Even as you short-Even as you short-

Circuit usCircuit usInto further darkness?Into further darkness?

Describing lightening

What is the meaning of treesWhat is the meaning of treesFalling heavy as whalesFalling heavy as whales

Their crusted rootsTheir crusted rootsTheir cratered graves?Their cratered graves?

Why does the poet remind us of the sea through her choice of words?

O why is my heart unchained?O why is my heart unchained?

The last question before the answers

What is the speaker’s heart ‘unchained’ from? What was it ‘chained’ to?

Tropical Oya of the Weather,Tropical Oya of the Weather,I am aligning myself to you,I am aligning myself to you,

I am following the movement of your winds,I am following the movement of your winds,I am riding the mystery of your strom.I am riding the mystery of your strom.

The speaker seems to resolve her issues by following nature.

Ah, sweet Ah, sweet mysterymystery,,Come to break the frozen lake in me,Come to break the frozen lake in me,

Shaking the foundationsShaking the foundations of the very trees of the very trees within me,within me,

Come to let me knowCome to let me knowThat That the earth is the earth is the earththe earth is the earth is the earth

A mystery is something difficult to understand yet magical.

What has ‘come to’ the speaker that is difficult to understand, yet is magical?

Why does the speaker compare herself with nature?

Are foundations usually ‘shaken’ or ‘solid’?

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

What tone is the poem?What tone is the poem?

Is the speaker happy or sad?Is the speaker happy or sad?

What are her main feelings throughout?What are her main feelings throughout?