by Tom Ashley
Why don’t you ask
the polar bear standing on
a piece of ice looking worried
or fishermen in Louisiana
thinking about tomorrow
disturbed at all with the fires
or the floods
maybe the refugees
lost at sea or starving
and the elephant tusk they
make such beautiful bracelets
sealskin and penguin
so soft to the touch
kiss your grandchildren goodnight
and tell them you’re sorry
it’s a bit hotter
and used to be greener
but you drank all the oil
burned a hole in the sky
followed the money
killed the planet
and left no future
not even enough
to forgive your sins
I have infinite gratitude to the fabulous Sarah White and my classmates who nurtured the imagery, passion, pleasure, emotion, insight and the gift of a lifetime I found in poetry.