CLIMATE CHANGE

Rain

be a deep spring cleaning

for Earth's infiltration

by polluted prayers

of sabotage and death

from heinous minds

deceit slithering between 

prayer-hand fingers

feigning ignorance of its aim

flood this slum

let fairweather-friend tendencies

float to the surface

so the targeted 

can steer their vessels clear

of the eye 

of their enemy's storm

 

Thunder

be a buffer across 

the atmosphere's foundation

David Copperfield the scuff marks

of their unremorseful missteps

sand them so vanished 

that those who dared

break the laws of life

and the souls of mankind

may have two left feet

unable to revisit the path

or start anew

halting their calamitous journey

 

Lightning

be an electrical fence

warden the element

sizzle their defiled thoughts

shock them into compassion

let them lay down 

the weapons in their hearts

so they'll have no desire 

to brandish them in the flesh

Wind

like Jesus

take the wheel

spin it robustly

like this world's safety

relies on the strength of your grasp

the precision of your rotation 

typhoon their acrimony

out of reach

category-five separation

sweep this unholy sphere 

till it sparkles with love

Hail

pelt their fear of failure

so heavy it outweighs their courage

to nurture dreams deferred

intercepting purpose

and legacy

disfigure it 

so Elephant Man that they may

construct a new belief system

confidence 

retrofitted to withstand

all precipitation

 

Snow

freeze the hell in their spirits

require them 

to dig themselves free of it

do not supply them with shovels

let them use their hands

so they can experience 

the frigid bite

of their negativity 

severing their fingertips

let them then vow 

to soften their touch

refrain from squeezing the life

out of love they've been gifted

by those they mistreat

Sun

shine so brightly 

that they can no longer see

justification for their malice

let them warm up to each other

to the idea that

there is enough space 

for every kind in this world

that everyone who is here

belongs

let them fashion a society 

where understanding 

acceptance

and allyship

are normalized

illuminated at every turn 

let them detect their contribution 

to connections' decline

do their part to rectify

let beauty be unmistakable

everywhere

and let me always be

at the forefront 

of the transformation crusade

demonstrating

inspiring

Rainbow

lend us your colors

let our pristine invocations

be flung like crayon confetti

into the ravenous belly

of the freshly washed sky

in commitment to

and celebration of

the new world order

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CLIMATE CHANGE

©2024 Charlene E. Green

ARSON

Your temper 

blow-torch Fahrenheit  

smoldering among your cells

disintegrating your lungs

each exhale carcinogenic

Your breath smells like

unresolved generational trauma

a putrid fusion

of blame, excuses

and all the smoke

you stay ready 

to serve the world.

No one is safe 

including you.

 

One day 

the internal holocaust 

charring your core 

roasting your bodily fluids

and blackening your heart 

will be too rebellious

for you to survive.

 

Swear I keep smellin' fire 

and sure enough

every time I look around 

it's you

lit

cracklin' and poppin', 

rockets launching from your tongue

a run-for-cover spectacle

short-circuiting people's tolerance 

incinerating vital bonds

from your support system 

snuffing out your prosperity.

Hell hath no fury 

like you

scorned.

You're not the warm refuge folks seek

to escape life's blistering chill

you're the reason the block is hot

carbon-monoxide mobile

mortal spirit

clearing the path

with one searing gaze

no need to speak

we all know

you don't require words

to kill the peace.

And I would call the fire department

but judging by 

the grandeur of your rage

your flame is too trick candle

for their hoses

you're not thirsty for healing

you wanna burn bridges

every day you add more tinder

to the widespread toxins 

engulfing humanity.

It's clear that your violent flare 

is premeditated

which means

this 

is an inferno 

that can only be extinguished

by you. 

©2024 Charlene E. Green