The Crust

He ran my fresh rivers to coal 

pockets of tempestuous heat 

forced the waters to boil 

wild salmon abandoned their homes 

and the empty riverbanks dried.

Pre-historic rocks left 

sleeping below the ground

were woken by the nudging light 

winking at them from the riverbeds. 

Disturbed by impending stillness 

they dragged themselves up to see

smoked air burning to a crust 

boiling rivers hurtling down

to the edges of the earth

and over with them I went. 

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

Wow! mind blower for sure .. so deeply connected .. i have never read nor heard of the end in such a magnificent spectacular way "The Crust" !! stunning work here LouBelle .. so glad i did not miss this one .. thanks for sharing .. it is solid from crust to core .. into the ol' library :)
E.

[Laura Kate]

Thank you so much, E! I'm so glad you enjoyed this :) Laura.

[barleygirl]

I have a mental obsession, picturing how badly we've messed up rivers for salmon in the Pacific Northwest, & I imagine how the poor flippery suckers can't easily do what nature would have them do. But your poem is taking this blah-blah-blah angst I feel on this topic & transforming it into a poem that thrashes thru the water full of life & yet also painting a bad scenario for its habitat in ugly truthfulness. I'm envious of how you have turned angst into art, without making an overt commentary, but just letting the reader take a poem like this where he/she will (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Coyote Poetry]

Powerful use of words shared dear poet. The words allowed the reader to fall into your thoughts. I wanted to view what you saw. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Wow the world is definitely flat when man's passion burns like this...
Love the references here to the waking up, the fire, almost like some Godzilla of romantic longing being woken up by some explosion of touch.
j.

[Laura Kate]

Thank you Jacob! Made me smile to picture Godzilla awakening amongst the images I had concocted of this scene - looks like a fantastic movie!

Hope you're keeping well and safe.
Laura.