Drought

I grew up in the Waldo Canyon - Colorado Springs area

where some of the largest mountain fires are currently

are occurring.   The severe drought in the deep southwest

deeply affects me even though I no longer live there. 

                                      Drought

Morning again, parched dry as death

Its frail glow waiting for another day

Adrift in the sifting dusts of drought

Scorched wisps of clouds

Fade in the heat smothered sun

Choking the last hope of rain

Wrapping my bones in a brown paper shroud

I want to rage against the outrage

Beat my fist against it

Twist free of this fire I cannot run from

Gather reason, protest, organize, negotiate

Go door to door and stir my complacent neighbors

Alert them to this relentless, unreasoning assault

On all that is my green mother world

Stop the burning away of life that leaves me orphaned

Bereft of all that made me, protected me, sustained me

All that I am

But I know in each moment beforehand

That they’ll just look right through me and say

Oh yes, it is so terribly hot

N’ it just won’t let up

We need rain bad

Then they’ll go on their way in silence

Knowing, like me, it’s already too late

C  7/9/12   Sandy Hartman

www.eonwriter.com