It will be 108 degrees this weekend in Seattle, hottest day in recorded history, since the late 1800’s. The Pandemic is still with us, and likely entering new phases of mutation. Still I hear voices raised in human arrogance denying that this world is in trouble. We may never destroy the earth, it’s pretty resilient. But we are on our way to wiping out human life — if we don’t wake the hell wake up!
I see you
you know well
I am a wild heart
I am a free spirit
living wild & free
in sacred balance
with my world — this earth
the earth we all share
we creatures
and you humans
you careless humans
poet
help them see
I am in danger
as are we all
in danger
this fresh pure water
you see me drinking
that replenishes me
replenishes all of us
that we all need to survive
even more that the food we eat
it is rapidly disappearing
as toxins
permeate our earth’s
fragile water systems
if we would lose
only our precious water
earth’s ecosystem will collapse
poet
help them see
the true light
the only way
is this sacred balance
help them hear
the clear voice of truth
help them know
the pure heart of justice
justice for this earth
justice for us all
help them truly want
to reach for
to grasp
to hold close
this sacred balance
for they must
look poet
help them feel
the terrible suffering
this earth is struggling
mightily to endure
help them learn how to see
with their own eyes
as I see with mine
wandering this planet daily
help them to see
that they are the cause
and they are the solution
if they will open
their eyes
their hearts
their minds
poet
you see many things
but you oft talk in riddles
you avoid the cold
and the hard way
favoring the soft path
of platitudes
and metaphors
of meter and rhyme
but this is not
this is not that time
poet
look into these eyes
my eyes
that weep
for our foolish devastation
you must become
the wild heart I am
you poet
must look into the fire
of our burning earth
feel it burn your eyes
char your soul
then
poet
tell them how that feels
help them hear me
hear my wolf’s song
as I keen and howl
for my dying world
let them hear you scream
of the injustice
of the real danger
the imminent danger
rally them
set them ablaze
with the passion to
seek and secure
the sacred balance
to hold it close
become its protector
lift your pen
poet
like a sword
and strike down
this imbalance
this human stupidity
show them the way poet
I believe
with all the wildness
of my heart
with all the strength
of my free spirit
they will join the battle
they must
but you must tell them
poet
tell them what is real
tell them in the power
that is plain language
tell them my earth
is dying
tell them our earth
truly is dying
their arrogance
is killing it
tell them now
poet
tell them true
poet
they will listen
they must listen
now
*
rob kistner © 2021
Poetry at: The Sunday Muse
Poetry Pantry at: Poets & Storytellers
Poetry Inspired by Ecological Change: Earthweal
With each word, line, stanza … my heart swelled with emotion. This is a “tome” of a poem, Rob. And it is beautiful …
Thank you Helen. I just feel like I am a damned fool, keening and howling, like that beautiful wolf I posted — singing his hair raising song of the wild. I hear it like a plea! But few seem to be listening.
A beautiful plea and message here to the poet and to all humans. I love this Rob!!
Sometimes I just feel like some alarmist fool who is yelling into the Grand Canyon.
I love “you must become the wild heart that I am”. If only humans, especially legislators, could hear the truth of this poem and begin to act. The glacial pace of change while the earth heats up is so discouraging. In my part of the world it is 43 degrees Celsius – in the grip of an unprecedented heat wave. Each year hotter than the one before. Sigh. Good poem, Rob.
You know Sherry, either I am an alarmist fool, who thinks I’m seeing the sky fall like Chicken Little did — or those who are in power know we have passed the tipping point, so they are simply downplaying the critical situation by encouraging doubt, thus trying to prevent the global panic and madness that would ensue, should the truth of how fucked we truly are, become fully realized by the majority of the world’s population..
I am glad the poet looked into the eyes of the wolf and listened to his/her message. I too saw something in the eyes that made me have to write. The wolf spirit is powerful. It thirsts for freedom and follows it’s instinct in the journey. Yes, poet you did the wolf
spirit honor. Well-penned.
I hope you are feeling better.
I am feeling better True.
Your Tom Waits song choice gives the anguish of your poem another dimension. A mission statement for poets everywhere.
The Earth Died Screamin’ As We Lay Dreamin’ — yesireebob Lisa! I think that recorded plaintive cry of that wolf said it pretty wrll also!
Poems jarring the blinders off–the rhythm and insistence of the speaker sent shivers up my spine.
Glad this resonated for you Chrissa… 🙂
So gripping and eloquent, Rob, and I fear all too true.
Thank you Bev…! I will continue to speak out, in my small part, until I bow out of this crowded crazed corporeal stage.
that’s a terrific response to the picture prompt. i like this urgent plea for help from the wolf. perhaps all the other creatures can join in too. the elephants, tigers, sharks, turtles and birds.
Oh, if only the creatures of the world could speak out — but still, would we humans listen?!
I absolutely loved that wolf song! Methinks it’s what sparked an answering rumble of thunder outside here, as Thunder Gods wanted to join the song. 🙂
Well Jinksy, I certainly believe all of nature is pissed off at we arrogant humans, from microscopic viruses, to global warming patterns resulting in all-time records heats, snows, droughts, forest fires, hurricanes, floods — these are NOT normal fluctuations! That is bullshit that’s being propogated by our feeble leaders — who know they have ultimately failed! This is unprecedented historical climate change, melting the polar caps, and unleashing cataclysmic global disasters. We may have actually PASSED THE TIPPING POINT! We may well be fucked!
Wonderful! If you’re a “chicken little” as least you care. If you aren’t, at least you are trying.
I’m in the Rogue Valley, southern Oregon. We are setting records, at least for June, this weekend, if forecasts come true. 111 and 112. And water… you must be having to watch it too, if not for shortages, then for lack of chlorine for disinfection. I think the factory with the problem is up your way. Most of our water is from a spring and needs little done to it, but in the heat they draw from the Rogue River and have to do more to it.
Lisa, I find it impossible to believe, with all the obvious warning signs, those in a position to begin initiating serious effort to “urgently” stop the collapse, act so casual about it. Human arrogance and stupidity.
You my friend, are doing what poets should do…Being the voice, speaking hard truth. I love this poem. I look out into the little bit of wild behind my house and fear for all we have lost and continue to lose. We need to be the wild voice for the wilderness, the water, for life, before we lose all of it.
Yes Susie, and if the ecology collapsed — we’d be so fucked! End of the human species.
Who couldn’t listen to the words in this poem? Emphatic and insistent, there is no dressing it up, but stark reality – ‘tell them in the power that is plain language’.
Tell them so they hear and can grasp it Marion. I favor simple words and direct statement. It can still be very poetic, and likely carry more overall impact.
If only poetry could command such attention from the world!
The poetry of Amanda Gorman and Brandon Leake sent a jolt into the public awareness. We just need more voices focused at ecology raised, and more relentlessly.
You annoint he poet with his difficult task
“sacred balance”
Happy Sunday
Much Love…
Much love to you Gillena. Poet’s Brendan Leake and Amanda Gorman raised public even international attention — we need perhaps a collective of strong resilient poets to create and sustain a relentless focus on the issues of the ecology, so politicians snd business leaders are unable to be blasé about, or worse, dismissive of the urgency of the matter.
Whatever it takes. This is a clear and concise call, Rob. Find a way to make it heard.
I am shouting as loud as a health-challenged elder can Brendan — but I will keep bellowing. And I continue, and will continue to personally act responsibly toward our environment.
A powerful plea to the poet.
‘You oft talk in riddles’
It’s one of my main issues with writing poetry: not to use the mystery words and adding to the vocabulary of the readers, but take them in a way of thought so they’ll understand.
I love the way you make me co-responsible….
I might answer…
Syl, if you are willing, let’s share the load. So much needs to change, socially, economically, politically, and other “lly’s” — but if we fail ecologically, the rest will all collapse. The ecology shows it’s wounds in a longer cycle, so they are not easy to rally around with passion, so they are ignored or at least acknowledged with indifference and apathy. But I believe we are finally beginning to “see” the accumulative impact. I hope that doesn’t equate to evidence that we have passed the tipping point.
Well, you brought me to tears. But I’m only another poet, and already onside. How do we persuade the powerful and short-sighted? I don’t have an answer to that question, but I know we don’t do it by giving up and shutting up. So – power to your pen! Power to all our pens!
I am so grateful for your meaningful comments Rosemary, thank you. I don’t know how we get those than can instigate a difference in government and business to recognize the urgency if the situation, but you are absolutely right — we can’t shut up!
The way that the wolf addresses this to “Poet” is powerful!
Question is Jenna, will those that can directly effect change, really hear it?!
A strong poem of witness. Needed.
Thank you Kerfe… 🙂
Sadly, bleak can always become bleaker until it can’t; until that fresh water vanishes and the toxins overtake everything. Tomorrow, I fear.
Write on Rob.
Thank you Ron, and to think, I have been accused of being pessimistic, even negative.
This is what poets do, speak for those who can not speak.
And weep for those whose tears are not always seen…
What a powerful poem! The stark reality of prevailing times. You have spoken for all of the humanity, Rob.
Thank you Sunita! 🙂
Wow!! You speak for all of wildlife and those who love it,
and despair.
Sara, frustrating as it seems, I believe nature will find a way. Whether the human race will be part of it — well, I guess there’s always a possibility?
You’re right, it’s no time for platitudes Rob. And we poets have our work to do. I hope they start listening very soon!
We simply need to keep the volume up Ingrid.
Wow, Rob, this is my all-time favourite of your poems. It could not be said any better and I love that you speak in the voice of the wild. This was heart-rending to read, and very inspiring and life-sffirming. I cnt imagine anyone reading it could be unmoved and not want to help heal the earth. Thank you for this.
I am so very glad this resonated with you Sherry. I remember the original eriting of it was exhausting, but tremendously moving.
Beautifully said. thank you.
Thank you. You are welcome Lindi.
I hear the plea that comes from your wild heart (and in the wolf’s bark/howl). You remind me of what the poets were to the ancient Greek world–leaders of the worship, writers and performers of the dramas, the medium through which the people reached the Gods. And pacified the Gods if they saw in the theatres, all the citizens entering this worshipful place together. The Greeks may have been imitating more ancient civilizations. And here we are, needing the poetry again.
Until that type of sensitivity can truly hold sway in modern civilization Susan, we will continue to decline away from culture, to power/money minded barbarians, with better, more deadly weapons. This is not an opinion, it is truth. The cultured part of our society spends their time trying to prevent the barbarians from murdering, pillaging, and destroying the earth. But the means to kill and destroy have become so plentiful and powerful — we may have past the tipping point. I am one, but I wish men would learn a way to communicate beyond rattling our sabers. We need the world to return to a more matriarchal influenced society. The macho-patriarchal thing, I believe, has failed.
I hope you are right Rob. The world must listen. There is no time left to pretend not to hear.
Absolutely Kerfe… !
I agree, Rob, this is no time for platitudes and clever language: let our message be loud, resounding and clear!
Yes Ingrid, we need to relentlessly carry this message with great power and force — blasting, billowing, bursting forth with the power of ten billion butterfly sneezes!