The In-Between Land - Print.

The In-Between Land: Psalms, Poems and Haiku

By Mark Gibson

Book description

These beautifully crafted psalms, poems and haiku capture the sense of hurt, frustration, and despair felt by those affected by the 2010-2011 earthquakes in Christchurch, while also offering praise and hope for a better tomorrow. Through his reflective and spiritual writing, Gibson creates a moving collection that enlightens readers and encourages an appreciation of the natural world.

• • •

Severe earthquakes struck Christchurch in 2010–2011 and caused obvious damage to buildings, the land and waterways. The emotional impact of these events on the people who lived through them is harder to see. For many people, the city and life they knew has gone, but they are not yet able to move forward – they are stuck in-between. In this moving collection, Mark Gibson tells their story.

His 15 psalms put before God the hurts, frustrations, injustices and despair that people feel. They also offer praise and point to a new appreciation of the natural world around us and to hope for a brighter future.

The poems, which document and reflect on the author’s unfolding pastoral and spiritual journey, are grouped into broad categories:

• Earthquakes
• Loss and lament
• Healing and renewal
• Torrent Bay escapes
• Life goes on

60 haiku offer playful, snapshot impressions of living through the four seasons: autumn, winter, spring and summer.

Draw on this collection for personal nourishment, strength in difficult times  or use in worship. You are not alone. There is hope.

About the Author

Mark Gibson is a Methodist minister at New Brighton Union Church. With his family, he has lived through the ongoing challenges of the 2010–11 earthquakes that impacted Christchurch. He is deeply engaged in parish and community ministry.

In 2007 he led a Lenten pilgrimage from Rakiura-Stewart Island to Wellington, to raise awareness of climate change and environmental degradation in the South Island. Mark also leads The River of Life project based in east Christchurch and co-leads the Avon Otakaro Network.

Mark is a 6th generation Cantabrian, married with four children and three grandchildren. This is his first published collection.

Contents

Psalms

• Psalm 1
• Psalm 2
• Psalm 3
• Psalm 4
• Psalm 5
• Psalm 6
• Psalm 7
• Psalm 8
• Psalm 9
• Psalm 10
• Psalm 11
• Psalm 12
• Psalm 13
• Psalm 14
• Psalm 15

Poems

Earthquakes

• Coup d’e tat
• Sleep stealers
• Adrenalin Bay
• Tectonic plates
• The day the letterbox danced
• Fourth anniversary

Loss and lament

• The Grand Old Lady
• The Immortal Four
• Twenty seven reasons
• 2011 Year of The Iconoclast
• Grey (One of those days)
• Parihaka Day
• They’re taking my city away
• Dam-nation
• Fragments from a fading frequency
• Inefficient
• Flight MH370
• The stripper
• No one comes
• Tiredness
• Wetlands

Healing and renewal

• River therapy
• Brief moments between the shaking
• Waiting room
• Prayer for the Otakaro-Avon River
• Waiting room 2
• Second call
• The true source
• New Year’s beach service
• Come to the river
• Opawaho Oracle
• Colour blind
• Resurrection
• Neighbourhood all-year BBQ
• Monck’s Bay blessing
• The steps
• The last days of winter
• Cave Creek

Torrent Bay escapes

• Dawn in Torrent Bay
• Family walk
• Waitangi Day
• Sunrise 3
• Sunrise 5
• Awesome encounter
• Epiphany
• Long before sunrise

Life goes on

• Our Emergency Office
• Transit lounge
• At the Show
• The party crasher
• Advent
• Management
• Waiata
• Flight Home

Haiku

Autumn

Winter

Spring

Summer