world afire

Had we only raked the forest floors
we could have stopped the fires.
If we built a higher wall,
tear gas wouldn’t cross the border.
There is no global warming;
can’t you feel the cold rain
falling on the fallen?

Anger rakes across my senses,
fire ravages my gut.
Walls can’t contain the pain
or hold back the tears.
The earth burns with desperation
as hearts grow ever colder.
And all the while, it is snowing in Russia.

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About Maggie C

Stained glass artist, writer, respecter of life.
This entry was posted in humanity, poetry, serious stuff and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

44 Responses to world afire

  1. Hélène Vaillant says:

    Rake the forests, build a wall. God save us all from the Orange Head,
    Beautiful poem, it says it all.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. The way you have used contrast works well for this poem. There are so many “if only’s” in life. This brings it home.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Glenn Buttkus says:

    “The world is on fire & Trump is playing with matches.” indeed. What other President has been truly a “fucking moron” who wants to be king? He has shown us that once anyone is in office, he is close to untouchable. Are we lucky that he has shown us the innocent naive underbelly of democracy? Will he be the architect of some unending dystopian nightmare of a future? If we impeach him, won’t the Senate save him? Won’t he pardon all the king’s crooks? Questions with answers.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. rob kistner says:

    What a fine and harrowing expression of our ravaging Trumpster fire Maggie. Maybe that orange head will spontaneous combust…

    Liked by 1 person

  5. It’s frightening, the inferno and the cold hearts.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. V.J. Knutson says:

    Methinks the snow in Russia looks a lot like money…

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Peggy Lemmer says:

    I feel your pain, and anger and frustration. You are very good at this. 🙂 Also he is very, very bad!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Margaret Elizabeth Bednar says:

    your poet’s voice speaks for many people.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. msjadeli says:

    “Anger rakes across my senses,
    fire ravages my gut.” expresses a sense of helplessness at what’s happening for me. it’s like the fire (destruction) that’s gotten out of control

    Liked by 1 person

  10. rothpoetry says:

    Very good poem of interesting contrasts!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Gina says:

    right and wrong played against nature’s might, how can we win, we are but defenseless and only greedy humans beings – beautifully penned

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Jo-Anne Teal says:

    You’ve gathered so much and written so much in this piece. One might say, you’ve written with fire. I agree with Gina. Beautifully penned.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. i Heard EartH Praying Tonight.. Yes..
    i am Listening.. Watching.. too..
    For A Fire Of Inoculation…
    Virus of
    Human
    Culture As Such
    A Nice Naked
    Species they were….
    Before
    A Fall
    of Clothes…
    Then.. Comb Over From Hell..;)

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Brendan says:

    We live in a burnt world now, no poem not browned and curling in from the edges. But we can vote. And write burning poems!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Janice says:

    I love the passion and irony in this and how it’s tightly written (each word counts).

    Liked by 1 person

  16. I love the emotions that ignite in the 2nd stanza. Very passionate.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Frank Hubeny says:

    I like this descriptive line of the situation: “The earth burns with desperation”

    Liked by 1 person

  18. For a president like this there are simply just two alternatives… either he is too stupid to understand basic concepts or he is too dishonest…. both alternatives are scary… (but I tend to believe that he is a crook).

    Liked by 1 person

  19. This is so well done and drives home the absurdity of 45’s actions and statements. I believe he is both stupid and dishonest, and we are seeing what a dangerous combination those are, especially in a President.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Fire burns in me every time I hear that idiot speak. Imagine reading a scientific report, proof of climate change, and human fault, and simply denying it. Great poem, Maggie!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Maggie C says:

      Thank you. I wouldn’t assume he read the report. I think his response was something along the lines that he “saw” the report, but his “gut” tells him it’s all wrong. With a gut like his, there’s no need to read, apparently.

      Liked by 1 person

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