Avoid the fault lines.
(In California, this is not as easy as it sounds).
Think twice about the flood plain,
no matter how appealing that level space appears.
Remember, sea side hills with ocean views
have turned to mud in record-setting rainfall years—
who knows how many there will be of those,
or what the path of fires will be, or crashing
planes, or if that quiet crater will nap another
millennium. Look for bed rock, solid, lasting
stable. Build there. Still, how many times
walking country roads, have I seen it, seen
that uncracked base when roof and walls are gone
or ruins, and stairs lead nowhere but to an empty up?
Even firm foundations aren’t always enough.
From: https://superstitionreview.asu.edu/issue1/poetry/irenapraitis
Date: 2008
By: Irena Praitis (19??- )
From Troubles of The World 