Three Poems from The Common Book of Stars
Poems by Alexandra Ellen Appel
WE WILL BEAR WITNESS to our world. This media project collects stories from earth's citizens, recording climate destruction, devastation, resilience and hope.
Tell your story.
Three Poems from The Common Book of Stars
Ode to Western Civilization
on the west coast of Africa, standing stones tell of future alignment with the Heavens what will come in the here and now
call it destruction call it rebirth or the second coming,
what? only one other coming
surely this is not truthrest your weary head for a moment your heart will beat, I will tell you more
so sorry, must go
one more cup of coffee, pleaseRain
Today the wind arrives
crossing continents
from a cyclone in Auckland
a Syrian earthquake all these events
obvious too the melting of the permafrost
the albedo effect warming our oceans
and others too numerous to mention, icebergs, glaciers, clear cuts
for the horizon of tomorrow is here
spread like jewels
a wildfire
from the Great Mother
believe what you will,
a hungry ghost is not far behind,
name it what you wish
imagined wholly real
no matter what,
please do not name it progress,
the rain is not far behind.
The Wind Came Up and the Rain
fell. The
monsoons of Northern California are here
next will come again drought admonishing heat
wetlands dry, monsoons return, bringing the winds
the found wheel spins and spins, and then the fires
and we long again for what was
now but this, this price we
earned the right to pay
by our greed, our persuasive desires
believed
we take what is ours
not to take
has no price
but this, this turning
is all we know of hope:
at night the stars take their rightful place in the sky
and the moon.
Alexandra Ellen Appel
Alexandra Ellen Appel is a poet and academic living in San Francisco.
WE WILL BEAR WITNESS to this moment in history. This media project features stories from earth's citizens, recording climate destruction, devastation, resilience and hope. Tell your story.