Coral Loss
More than one-third of coral reefs
died in the huge bleaching.
We were all caught by surprise.
The previous monster
lifted background temperatures.
We were all caught by surprise.
Warm seas. Corals expel
tiny photosynthetic algae,
turn white and die.
We were all
caught by surprise.
caught by surprise.
Future El Ninos push beyond
thresholds – including
thresholds – including
the Great Barrier Reef
and Kakadu.
Banks consider climate.
We were all caught
by surprise.
Banks consider climate.
We were all caught
by surprise.
Love the optimism, and the image.
ReplyDeleteOptimism???
DeleteLove the optimism, and the image.
ReplyDeleteWow Rosemary, that is an incredible poem. A wonderful mix of scientific and almost mythic language. I love the technique you used with the newspaper.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it. All the language was there. It was just a matter of selecting and arranging it.
DeleteI especially liked the repeated line and the clever image of erasures
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gail. I hope the irony of that line came through. I thought it bore emphasising because it seems to me such a preposterous statement. SURPRISED? Some of us environmentalists have been trying to tell them for decades.
DeleteYes, lovely use of repetition. The different line breaks give a subtlety different tone each time.
ReplyDeleteTa. I'm glad it worked.
Deleteditto, Rosemary. The best sort of opportunistic creativity. I love it! I also like the way your image reflects Barbara's, suggesting the idea of closed/barricaded minds albeit for different aims. So good!
ReplyDelete