My poem today is my own, written in response to the terrible drought and heat we've had this summer, in Colorado and across the nation. When I visited my brother in mid-Missouri, I was shocked at the look of his property with so little moisture. People don't always have the facility to irrigate, especially when their usual weather is plentiful rain, like in Missouri. I am saddened by the plight of those who depend on moisture; the recent news about our nationwide drought is both sad and frightening for the future. Here is a reflection:
Not My Favorite Colors
Drought informs both living
and dying
this summer of 2012.
We’re competing with old
records,
not a game I’ve enjoyed
playing.
Edges of my lawn
burn.
No matter how well the
sprinkler pulses
the gulping roots rise
for more,
and burn in sunshine few
enjoy.
We yearn for cumulonimbus
clouds.
Sometimes they appear,
even darken,
but the rain so wanted is
only virga,
drowning prayers a
thousand feet up.
I pick cherry tomatoes
from the pot
and say my thanks for the
hose,
the sprinklers,
the money to pay the
water bill.
I yearn for rain for the farmers,
for the crops they need to
sell,
that we will need to
buy.
Drought colors my summer
but only in shades of
brown.
"Drought colors my summer / but only in shades of brown." - What powerful lines!
ReplyDeleteAre those your tomatoes? Because they look fabulous!
We've had quite a wet spring and our summer hasn't been overly hot ... so we complain about that! Your poem makes me realize that I / we have much to be grateful for.
Thank Violet. Even though we are used to quite an arid climate, it's been a long while since it's been this bad. The tomatoes can be watered! Other things aren't doing so well, like pumpkins. They keep blooming but don't produce anything-very stressed.
DeleteWhat a powerful poem! Sadly, those drought-like conditions are all over North America. We have finally had a good rainfall today after so little rain for most of June and July. It is scary to think what will become of our food supplies.
ReplyDeleteIt is incredible the number of states they show on the news that are stricken. I am hopeful for a better autumn. Thank you Beverley.
DeleteI love the last two lines too, Linda - the images are so vivid I recall our time in Nevada - the blister-inducing, dry, hot days are not missed AT ALL. I now appreciate Singapore's humidity (which I used to complain about before). Great reflections, Linda. Everyone's a victim of climate change, indeed.
ReplyDeleteThank you Myra. I forgot that you were lately here to see what I'm talking about. A little humidity would be heavenly.
DeleteThis really captures the "visual image" of what drought looks like and does. Your last line "only in shades of brown" is a very powerful image. It seems like much of America will be "paying" for this summer for a while as it may have lasting fiscal impact as well as its visual impact!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I believe the news' intent is to scare, but the stats don't lie. We will be paying for this I'm sure. Thanks Anita.
DeleteI was woken up by the sound of a storm this morning, but your poem pulls me in to dry, brown fields. I wish I could share this rain! Well done, Linda.
ReplyDeleteOh, a little rain would be lovely. I'm happy you are having some, Tabatha. Thanks for the wish.
DeleteHere it's been dry and terribly hot, too. Our squash, like your pumpkin, is blooming but not producing anything. I'm too lazy to attach a third hose to get water out to our tomatoes so this is the smallest harvest I have ever had.
ReplyDeleteYour poem captures the stress of the drought so well. Hope you get rain soon.
It's different than the usual dry spell, like with the pumpkins. Thank you Katya. Best to you, too.
DeleteI really like the last two lines.
ReplyDeleteThank you Liz.
DeleteDear Linda, I share your feelings about this drought -- it's heartbreaking to see places you loved scorched. And yet there is a terrible beauty to it too. I want to write about that. Thanks so much for your poem!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. You're right about the beauty and the photos show that when I see the fields especially. Thanks Irene.
DeleteYou captured the sadness and despair of this drought in your poem. I think we'll be living with the effects for a very long time. My heart goes out to the farmers.
ReplyDeleteAs you see, me too Mary Lee, me too. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteA sad subject to write about, but you've captured the truth of the situation beautifully. A feeling of helplessness, and then those last two powerful lines. We were blessed with morning rain here -- wish we could send some your way.
ReplyDeleteme too-we had a lovely rainy Monday about a month ago-heaven! But that is not so unusual, it's just that the summer is also so hot. Thanks Jama!
DeleteThis is lovely, Violet--so heartfelt. My favorite line is
ReplyDeletethe gulping roots rise for more,
Perfect.
An apt poem for this summer. Good work capturing the emotion. I've always loved that word "cumulonumbus." Very nice seeing it in your poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura & Doraine. Since I have written, this evening we've had about 20 minutes of rain. It is heavenly, even brief.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. You have given touching insight on what for many of us is only a news headline. I liked your line "We're competing with old records, not a game I've enjoyed playing." So right - this is not a game. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maureen. It is certainly a challenge, especially for those whose work depends on water.
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