Turning points

When I wrote this poem it was a response to the fires raging in Greece and Turkey, in particular. This was just before COP26, so I made it an appeal to Governments (why should they listen to me? They sure need to listen to Us, and now). I added lines about our vulnerable areas of Wales where I live, the Preselis and Brecon Beacons. There have since been fires there. I didn't mention London and Yorkshire, where fires are burning today. Maybe now our world is again on fire our governments will act? Haha! We really do need governments that will help us survive climate crisis.  We don't need the ones that argue among themselves about tax cuts for the rich. Thanks to editor Mike Jenkins and Culture Matters for including my poem in this anthology, the whole thing is well worth a read. Link at bottom of page.

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....

https://www.culturematters.org.uk/index.php/arts/poetry/item/3969-gwrthryfel-uprising-an-anthology-of-radical-poetry-from-contemporary-wales