A Voice in the Wilderness

Dublin Core

Title

A Voice in the Wilderness

Subject

How the arrival of Covid 19 unexpectedly assisted the slowing of global warming

Description

A Voice in the Wilderness

 

The Earth was warming, much too fast. 

We had to cool it down. 

But, rich men with expensive tastes said
Nothing could be done. And that was that.


But they told us they would try. 

So, dressed to kill, they shared their skill,

they racked their brains

and brought their shiny flow charts up to date.

The data said the temperature was spiralling to ‘God knows where’

So, nothing could be done. And that was that.


Governments said it might be solved.

So they checked their balance sheets.

And yes, they all agreed:

the mercury must fall,

the earth must cool.

But the dollar must survive, and economies must grow.

So, nothing could be done. And that was that.


Then a young voice spoke.

She told us that the world would have to rest.

We only had one planet. Just one Earth.

One place that we called home.

And home was getting hot.

The temperature must fall.

But those in power said business must survive and the dollar must be saved. 

So, nothing could be done. And that was that.

 

We knew the skies were crowded with metal birds of prey.

And clouds gave way to vapour trails

from planes which owned the space where light came through

and carbon in abundance ruled the land.
And the young voice of reason spoke again and said 

‘reclaim the earth and leave the skies in peace’.

But reason was not heard.

So nothing could be done. And that was that.


Then quietly from the East something virulent and unseen

slid silently to our shores and left destruction in its wake. 

Then the dead piled up and the rushing stopped.

The factories closed and the earth slowed down.

And vapour furrows in the skies gave way to cumulus and cirrus clouds

which told us that fair weather was to come.

The birds reclaimed their space and the dollar hid its face.
Then the streams ran clear and pure,

the planet took its rest and the meek reclaimed the earth.


So, there was no more to be done.
And that was that.

Creator

Pat Griffin

Publisher

Kilkenny County Council Library Service

Date

2021

Contributor

Kilkenny County Council Library Service

Rights

Kilkenny County Council Library Service, rights assigned

Format

Word Document

Language

English

Type

Text