Yellow Sky of Mo(u)rning

photo by Ali Chase

photo by Carrie Jo

The forests are all burning,
ominous yellow sky from the forest graveyard
blanketing the town,
the planet heated beyond endurance,
as if it is self-immolating
like a Buddhist monk, in protest,
in hope of liberation.

The forests are all burning,
The birds are startled silent, 
a few questioning cheeps
under the thick blanket of smoke,
trying to determine
if it is morning.

The forests are all burning.
Deer and cougar and bear flee the fiery slopes.
Focused on escape, they run before the flames,
equally prey and victim
of the consequence of human greed.

The forests are all burning.
The planet is too hot
because of human greed,
human disregard for the interconnection 
of all beings and ecosystems.

The forests are all burning,
as if the planet itself is self-immolating,
like a Buddhist monk,
in protest,
in hope of liberation.

The planet will liberate itself
from the ashes of our existence,
as we burn our own house down.

Yesterday at the lake, we watched the forest fire on Dog Mountain. There is no way to stop it. All these years, we have had the Mars water bombers in the lake for just such events. This year, the government, in its usual lack of wisdom, declined the contract for the bombers. which are now grounded, while the forests burn. 

This morning, I woke to a yellow ominous sky, a valley fallen eerily silent. I am feeling so sad about how corporate greed has devastated this planet, while the governments who are supposed to serve and protect instead served corporate interest, and chose holding onto power over the good of all beings.

Western Canada and the north are burning. My soul is sad this morning. Weary, resigned and sad.