Turning points
See the poor man’s cow burn
hear scorching sheep scream.
Watch news films of the world on fire
from behind our various screens.
Trees crackling, bark burning, lumber falling
heat coursing across hills
that could be our Preselis or our Brecons,
our Cambrian mountains blackened.
We will him on, that man with the cow.
Turn around, turn to home
grab your kids, your mama and grandma
leave your photos, all the pictures on the walls
see them burn, see them burn
run to the sea, run run run.
Smoke chokes your lungs, sears your throat
inferno follows you
an avalanche of fire down the mountain
closer and closer rolling and rolling
Turn and turn again, watch your life burn.
Your neighbour’s cow is on a rein, her bulging eyes askance
his father has the dog, dead lizards scatter the path.
A small child carries a tortoise.
See people on the shore –
friends, cousins, brothers and sisters and all their children
soot smudged across faces, eyes vacant
yet full of fear.
Turn, look back.
A wall of orange rages closer and closer
rolling smoke wreaths around
blackens your trees, kills your bees
swallows your village.
Ash falls like snowflakes, shifting footprints on sand
where sea is grey mud.
Turn to the boats, the only way
to escape from heat and smoke.
Now turn again, turn again.
Look to your governments,
those who would let all our futures burn.
Let them see your dark staring eyes
your lost and angry faces
your fear and despair.
Hold their gaze.
Make them turn to you.
Do not let them turn away.
To find out more about Culture Matters and the Uprising anthology....
