Cape Anne Earthquake 1755

                          Earthquakes, the works of God and Tokesn of his Just Displeasure, from sermon by Tomas Prince

Strong Puritan measures 

judgments against 

frivolity and paganism

snaked into each household

and held on tightly to what was 

regarded as God's law

until the earth that held them could

no longer uphold this structure

earth unlaced her corset strings

untied her boots

and began to dance

unheeding of everything aside for

the need to break restrictions

earth rumbled awake 

danced down chimneys 

churches to the last steeple 

trees swayed to the percussion

deep in their woody bones they pulled 

back their roots from the searing heat

they tossed their leaves

in the scorching winds

The worshippers held on

they fell

flabbergasted

frightened

Who has never sinned 

Who has never danced