Mark Pirie is a Wellington poet, editor and publisher who has a number of relatives living in Christchurch. He was saddened by the deaths of so many, especially fellow poet Rhys Brookbanks in the CTV building. He wrote these Words for Christchurch.
WATER by Mark Pirie
For Mayor Bob Parker and the people of Christchurch
After the shaking
struck, Christchurch
was never the same.
Everywhere, people
rushed to help rescue
and remove the debris.
As if in a war zone
buildings crumbled,
collapsed, becoming
mere rubble. Businesses
and jobs lost. Lives taken.
Hearts broken in homes.
The age-old question
“Why?” Yet, the human
spirit began once more.
Students, farmers arrived
for the clean-up, the Mayor
helped restore the calm.
It could be weeks, maybe
months, but he was sure
they could rebuild, drink again.
Poem copyright Mark Pirie 2011
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 
It’s great to see such a moving poem on what happened in Christchurch,from one of our best poets – a simple, direct, and essentially poetic statement of the pain, the situation and the event itself.
Alistair paterson ONZM