A World in Crisis

A year ago at the North Pole

Santa STILL had a sign

That read "For Sale," posted on

His slushy, sludgy property line.

 

We stopped by to pay a visit

And found Santa out of sorts.

He asked if we perchance had read

Recent global warming reports.

 

"Things are looking worse than ever,"

He said, on the verge of crying.

"The ice caps continue to melt,

And the world's coral reefs are dying.

 

"We'll be seeing flooding coastlines,

Food shortages, wildfires….

And some even have the nerve

To call the prognosticators liars!

 

"People ask if it's too late.

I tell them that it depends

We can stop the warming, BUT

We MUST reverse emissions trends.

 

"If the earth's temperature rises

Two point seven degrees, they write,

Above pre-industrial levels--

That's degrees in Fahrenheit--

 

"We'll face dire consequences:

Mass extinctions of animals and plants,

Wobbly countries, refugees….

These are NOT just foolish rants!

 

"The world economy must be transformed.

Come on! You have to use your head!

Renewable sources of energy

Are vital; otherwise, we're dead."

 

How sad it was to see a man

Who once had been so cheerful and jolly

Now become so sad and so

Demoralized by human folly!

 

He showed us his dilapidated

House, and then with a sigh,

He said, "I've got work to do,"

At which point we all said good-bye.

 

-by Bob B (11-24-18)

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Well written narrative, with great flow and excellent rhyme. A strong warning contained in your lines. Is anyone listening? Great read.

Chris

[PatrickPink]

Fantastic piece of work, you've highlighted an important issue and framed it in a manner that can resonate with people of all ages. Your control of rhyme is superb, and really adds to the flow of the whole poem! Congratulations!