Beautiful Pictures and Poems: Storms and High Seas in Madeira
Powerful Seas


The photos below are of storms on the Island where I live. The weather: usually a temperate climate, being the main attraction of Madeira, certainly has her moments. The sun is banished from the skies and the sea morphs into a black liquid demon. The wind arrives with the rain; her best friend and all hell breaks loose. Together they rise; an angry sea and a furious wind reigning havoc on the Island. No mercy is given and no surrender accepted.
In the photo directly below: the wave was more than 40ft high and came crashing into a solid cement wall, ripping through the concrete like children's lego. The supporting steel swayed in the wind like giant pipe cleaners. A mass of steel and concrete reduced to nothing but a wire, cement mess; once solid and strong reduced to nothing by the fury of water.
People stopped their cars to stare in awe at such strength and energy. Gasping as the waves continued to crash against the crumbling wall. Cameras flashed again and again. The waves seemed to relish in the attention; desperate to show a strenght that caused such emotion among it's audience.
Fury
Each wave came in a fury, leaving her mark on the shore
bearing her individuality, she erupted from the core
a caged animal, full of anger and rage
and then from deep within: the final roar.
The Arrival
You rise, you gain, you run, you fall...
the most majestic animal of all.
A break to shore, a fleeting rest...
to fly again in full jest.
White foamy locks...
crashing to rocks...
a kiss of spray; you retreat...
and stay away...
duty over till another day.
Sea Horse
White sea spray mane
in glory surrounds you...
wildly bellowing west.
A galloping stride,
thunders...
riding to a majestic crest.
The deep blue of under belly...
finally laid to rest.
The Wave
She swells. Rises with elegant grace
gathers speed;
begins her race. Seeking her goal,
hunger growing.
Fast, furious energy flowing
a crazed animal; crashing to the floor
once again;
engulfs the rocky shore.
Destruction
Silver fin
jellied jewel
embedded star
crusted fool
glistening eye
sprat school
eight legged
rainbow scale
pink shell
curled tail
sea cauldron rubble
boil and bubble
all secrets
from the deep
the ocean demon
will forever keep.
Rage
Rage engulfing...
you rise and fly...
a furious angry cry.
Steeling all within your path...
expelling wrath.
The monster from the deep;
we pray you return to sleep.
Hidden
Sands of time travel...
over foreign miles of sea.
Deep below the ocean face...
where few dare to flee.
A place of hidden treasures...
among scatter bones lie.
Sunken ships lost forever...
under the blueness of the sky.
Petticoat Thrills
Frothy waves crash to the rocks
feathered blue, petticoat frocks.
Underskirts, layering frills
hot desires, relishing thrills.
Fruits of the sea a hidden tease
a ransom catch for eyes to please.
The Sea Rake
All debris to Davies locker stored
to idol over whilst calm days hoarded.
Awoken from a slumber, anger revived
the devil within, spit to shore
with a frenzied spin.
Treasure cast away,
no longer the jewels of the wanton day.
Alas the fools shall come out to play.
Sea Monster
Storms In Madeira
December 2009:
Rivers burst their banks. Landslides covered paths and roads. Rocks were thrown from the sea. Marinas ransacked. Walls smashed. Tunnels Flooded. People stranded. Crops destroyed. The ocean a bubbling mass of destruction.
February 2010:
Rivers burst their banks flooding the lower city, small towns and little villages. The rushing waters had no mercy and took everything in it's path. Houses were smothered in mud, others washed away like children's toys.
Whole roads were swallowed; reduced to a river bed. Boulders the size of buildings were deposited like sugar lumps on the roads. Houses sank and fell into growing rivers. Tunnels were caked in ocean mud.
Local terraces and plantations were wiped out. Thousands of banana plants windswept beyond salvation. Fruits and vegetables lovingly sown, ripped from their beds and washed out to sea.
The ocean was a cauldron of brown liquid. The land a mass of filth. Devastation settled like a black cloak among the people of Madeira. Families lost loved ones, their homes and their livelihood.
Mother Nature stood by and watched.




© 2009 Gabriel Wilson