The world is burning, but
in a day or two the fires will be out.
They’re being water-bombed right now.
The houses and paddocks
and the poor, trapped stock
will all be destroyed. But the fire
will be out. Only the blackened earth
will map its dimensions
for a while.
Some will leave and some
will stay to rebuild. The same
as they do when it’s water wrecking
home, livelihood, landscape – when
the big floods thunder, battering our walls,
drowning whole towns, obliterating the land.
Turn up the aircon, these days
when Summers get longer, hotter.
They’ll figure out something before …
The world is burning, but
it’s over there in Europe, it’s
over there in the Middle East. Not here.
Turn off the news! Don’t watch!
All that maiming and starving, I know
you can’t bear, and the cities of bombed rubble.
It’s over there, it’s all over there.
It’s all over, there … The world is burning, but
go to sleep; there is nothing you can do.
Written for Poets and Storytellers United at Friday Writings #218.
I love how you played with the two elements Fire and Water and at the same time created an awareness of the current situation and blended it with the truth that, "there is nothing you can do" exposing the charade that's going on.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosemary for your kind comment on my blog.
And thank you, Sumana, for your thoughtful comment here!
DeleteI take the liberty to comment in a foreign language here to express my sentiment after reading your wonderful poem. First I write it in Hindi script, followed by the same thing in English script. At the end I am meaning-translating the couplet.
ReplyDeleteलोग टूट जाते हैं एक घर बनाने में
तुम तरस नहीं खाते बस्तियाँ जलाने में
बशीर बद्र
(Log toot jaate hain ek ghar banane mein,
tum taras nahi khaate bastiyan jalaane mein)
Bashir Badr
People spend their lifetime to build a home, you show no mercy while burning entire villages.
Thank you; in any language this too sadly true. A great evil.
Delete"It's over there." Many times said.
DeleteWe could add "we can help" but not so nearly said. Your poem set the mood so very well.
Thank you, JIm. You understood the ironic point of my poem: the turning away rather than thinking to try and help.
DeletePowerful piece
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it hits the spot.
DeleteIn my poem I don't want to get out of bed for it. I played t he song Zombie by the Cranberries yesterday: But you see, it's not me, it's not my family
ReplyDeleteIn your head, in your head, they are fighting
With their tanks and their bombs, and their bombs, and their guns
In your head, in your head, they are crying
Exactly so!
DeleteThe repetition of the world is burning is so powerfully here. I appreciate how you hold the devastation and the helplessness in the same breath.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marja.
DeleteI agree with Marja ... the repetition works beautifully in your poem of doom. "Turn off the news! Don’t watch!" The best possible way to deal with all the horrific mayhem. I have been away from poetry for a while, feels good to be back.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back!
DeleteExpressing our views is what we can do
ReplyDeleteYes! However, we are not always heard.
DeleteI love your use of fire and water. Compassion is on sabbatical.
ReplyDeleteThank you. And yes, deplorably so.
DeleteNothing you can do, except write a poem - which you've done wonderfully well!!! There needs to be some way to turn off the news, though...I find myself doomscrolling at 1AM ... :(
ReplyDeleteI like to watch enough news to keep myself informed; I think that's important too. I was trying to be ironic with my conclusion, about people who just give up – but I guess it is all too common now for people to feel despairingly helpless in the face of the huge problems, so almost, no-one seems to have taken it as meant.
DeleteI read it now again and I see how you meant it. But yes, it is all too much to deal with and one does tend to feel helpless.
Delete