seísmo

At 5:48, an earthquake registering 6.4 on the Richter scale emanated from Pisco, Perú.

My apartment building, room, and bed shook, but it was the car alarms outside that roused me. I lay in bed watching the ceiling lamp swing hypnotically, waiting for a hypnotist's voice to break through the gray dawn and the fog of my consciousness for instructions.

This is the biggest earthquake in Perú in 2006. There was no major damage and no reported injuries.

Have you ever picked up a rock from a lakeshore or beach? Felt its cool, dense weight? Then imagine entire mountains moving.

There is something awesome and formidable about being shaken and moved by, it seems, air—without the gross hold of hands, maws, or machines. Life is not limited to carbon-containing creatures, but extends to things like concrete and continental crust.

Wow.

I wanted to offer a sacrifice, build a temple, genuflect to the sun, moon, and stars; anything to hold on to mystery.