~
the natural world
slowly engulfed
diminished
withered
scarred
as the
putrid
toxic air
permeated
burnt terrain
to far horizons
defoliated trees
thrusting skyward
in this flaming hell
helpless dying forest
animals fleeing fires
some trapped on fire
I a pitiful survivor
useless sentinel
sad witness
|
I watched
|
it burned
|
rob kistner © 2020
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Such a sad story these fires – and the ruin of these forests – Here in Australia we celebrate some rare plants returning after last year’s fires – but the grand trees and all the lives that nest, or feed on them – are gone. This fine piece goes to the dilemma in the prompt – what are we? sad witnesses – can poetry do anything? can it make a difference? I like to think so but as artists we have to decide for ourselves. Bravo Rob.
Peter — If you read the replies I made to the other wonderful folk who left comments here to my piece, you will understand how I feel about human conduct here on spaceship earth. As poets, and as other types of artists, I believe the best we can do is constantly call attention to, and continually attempt to elevate, the goodness of we humans. Will that make an ultimate difference to this greedy, frightened, tunnel-visioned, million-mile-an-hour human race — I truly don’t know Peter. But I fully believe, as the creative body of humankind, it is our absolute sacred duty to try.
the natural world can be scarry. maybe we should listen to it.
thanks for sharing
Absolutely Rog! Human beings are demonstrating mass stupidity in our attitude to spaceship earth. It is truly the only viable ride we got through the Universe right now. We crash it, we’re all dead! Our gross ignorance is, to a significant degree, the result of our failed attitude toward, and management if our educational system here in the USA – as was what we permitted to continue in our White House and Senate for the past four years. I hope it is not too late to learn. Our large scale stupidity is the result of human arrogance. Not sure what we do about that when you have the religious machines of the earth telling their followers we are like unto gods, and beholding only to only whatever the hell “gawds” are? Don’t get me started. Peace Rog.
Your poem has a great shape, Rob, like an hourglass, counting down the time our planet has left. We don’t have anything like those wildfires over here, it’s too cold and damp, and I can’t imagine them. I only know what I’ve seen on the news – and that was terrifying. The alliteration in ‘putrid toxic air permeated burnt terrain’ sounds like the popping and crackling of fire.
Forest fires are not something you ever want to get caught Kim. They will leap over rivers in the tops of the giant trees. Or roar through a field or ip the complete side of a mountain in the blink of an eye! Extremely dangerous infernos – with a deep rumbling roar that will scare the be-jesus outta ‘ya!
You capture the feeling of powerlessness many of us share. We know we are to blame, but unless there is massive loss of human life, we write it off as a caprice of nature.
Yes Jane, and so much of shat we are doing goolishly on this earth, is leading to the loss of life, including human life. We as a species, are capable of great lack of understanding, vision and compassion. We can even exhibit mass stupidity. Look shat we let into the White House for four years, running amuck, and creating a dangerous tangle in he machine of our country. I have said it many times, “beware of the clever human, it manifests remarkably dzngerous shortsightedness!” What I commented to Ingrid herein I share with you as well.
The saddest witness to the greatest tragedy.
Yes it is Ingrid, and though I didn’t cause it directly, I am culpable as a human being, because this climate change we are effecting is lending yo more, bigger ,and mote violent forest fires every year — and we human’s are deforesting the planet in numerous places, and that is upsetting the eco balance — which just increases the global issues. We must as a people figure out how to be much bette stewards of his planet… stop believing that we have some sort of dominion over nature, because WE DON’T. It is the worst, and most dangerous, kind of human arrogance — and nature is fighting back on many levels, from microbiotic viruses, to major natural disasters.
Terrible loss! I grieve the loss of forest resources too. Smaller fires could act as natural buffer against such huge, uncontrollable infernos. We need changes in forestry management.
Yes Lynn, I agree. Some argue that forest fire is necessary for the cycle of life. It is, and the smaller natural fired of years past were healthy for growth and strength. But humankind has upset the balance because we have set in motion a toxic imbalance by our irresponsible actions. These roaring monsters year after year is not the natural cycle. To be honest, I not wholly convinced we can get the cycle back in the groove!?
Ohh 🙁 undoubtedly the most tragic of everything else we have witnessed.
This has been the year of fever and fire, Covid and smoke Sanaa. Hard to bear witness to what is going on. 🙁 Sounds like a law firm: Fever, Fire, Covid & Smoke … a poor attempt at a little humor to lighten the weight.
A very beautiful, but extremely sad post. It must be devastating to witness this and know there is so little anyon can do to prevent it from happening again. Well done Rob.
It is heart wrenching Dwight, especially because my family seems to end up knowing others who experience much terror and loss in each recurring fire season. This year was tangled with the Covid-19, so doubly difficult. A few of the shelters people were fleeing to had Covid outbreaks. I felt powerless listening nightly to the tragedy unfold on local news. The putrid smoke was so bad major cities up and down the West Coadt were on double lockdown — for the virus and the smoke. It was a sad and miserable end of summer.
The fires are devastating… so much disappearing and though it will grow back… it will take time.
Hope there will be some lovely flowers that need fire at least.
Forest fires have a purpose, but not these unnatural raging infernos of recent years. Each forest fires takes with it some species of plants, and small critters, that never return. And the death of animals and humans and difficult to take. Must panic and grief accompanies each one. Horror on a grand scale.
This is a horror story that is going to keep repeating without major world intervention. Well said.
Thank you Kerfe, and you are right on. We gotta wake the hell up.
So sad we have lost so many trees and animals. Heartbreaking Rob.
Yes Linda! Wildfires are not only increasing in numbers, but doubling in their scale of destruction in the past year alone. Records from the National Interagency Fire Center show that 8.6 million acres have burned already in 2020, compared with 4.6 million acres in all of 2019. Six of the largest California wildfires in history occurred in 2020.
Here is another extremely sobering reality Linda! In the 5-year period from 1980-84 a total of approximat 15 million acres burned. In the most recent 5 years, nearly 50 million acres have burned. An increase in destruction of 3.5 times (350%).
*Ever-increasing climate change has a direct impact on this skyrocketing devastation. Expectations for 2021 are even grimmer.
Powerful poem of witness. The raging fires are catastrophic. We lose our pristine forests, wild animals, and our homes as well. So very thankful for firefighters who work hours and hours on end….climate change yes…and in some cases, humans’ carelessness and stupidity.
In both cases you cite Lillian, it is human stupidity!
You make me feel your suffering witness to this holocaust, Rob. For events such as this, you show us how important it is to find the words that testify to the horror of such wanton destruction to those who have not experienced it.
Thank you Dora…!
So much loss. The scale is so hard to fathom
Living here in the Pacific Northwest, these horrors are coming more frequently and more devastating. Do not tell me there is no Climate Change. Maybe now my country will have folks in leadership who will get us on the path to do something about it — and about Covid-19. It is going to take a long time to turn it all around for future generations, if we still have the time — but we gotta start. We have already lost 4 precious years under the impact if an ignorant baby.
An ache to know it happened and your sorrow at watching it happen helplessly is felt in your reading.
Helpless & hopeless. 2020 has not been a good year Lisa. 🙁