It was a sweet walk where we once held hands
and danced;
a waltz around the wilting wheatfields
imagining that we still had a chance:
Slow sleepwalk into Armageddon
like dying flames of a once-wild romance.
Slow sleepwalk into Armageddon like
a fevered dream
delirious and staggering
and tossed like whirling twigs within a stream
of consciousness,
unconscious of the brink to which we’d come
till we went over. Down and down we fell!
Some had the nerve to cry ‘What have we done
to deserve this?’
While others knew the answer all too well:
Slowly, we sleepwalked into Armageddon,
transforming all the bounty of the Earth
into a living Hell.
Posted for Earthweal’s Open Link Weekend #38. In keeping with this week’s de-facto theme of ‘Armageddon,’ I am posting another apocalyptic poem. These seem to be coming to me naturally at the moment. I hope there is still time to wake up from our sleepwalk, and save as much of our environment, and as many of the creatures who inhabit it, as possible. If we continue to stick our heads in the sand, I fear we won’t wake up until we step over the precipice.
Please visit and follow Earthweal for more poetry and other writing on the theme of a changing planet: a planet we have changed through our collective disregard for the natural environment.
I am praying that the pandemic, in deconstructing the lives we have taken for granted, will force us to adapt so that the world can start to repair. Maybe we are each having to go through an internal process of deconstructing and reforming as part of that process.
I hope you are right Deborah. I have certainly been through that internal process!
How entrancing the flame, how awful we dance right into it in this poem; the weave of Armageddon in rhyme is a powerful effect. NY Times just broadcast a doc on FX about the Australian wildfires earlier this year, very first person and absolutely horrific. A homesteader talked of huddling in a shed with his wife trying to breath while flames roared just outside and animals screamed in the distance. Thanks for inviting your friends to earthweal, ’tis a lonely little forum. – Brendan
Hopefully it won’t be lonely for long because the standard of work which is shared here is very high, and there are many important messages being conveyed through the poetry posted here. Thank you for providing us this platform!
So welll written Ingrid and It’s not over yet on so many levels.. thanks for sharing your talent in words. Have a great day! ❤️ Cindy
Thank you Cindy! Have a peaceful Sunday 😊
You’re most welcome!!! You as well! 🤗
Chilling– and hopefully not true…. 🙁
Yes, I hope so…
Slow Sleepwalk into Armageddon…there is such music in your poems and always the echo of a song lyric. JIM
Yes, I’ve noticed that myself! There is a lot of crossover between poetry and song I think. Thank you for reading!
Well constructed Ingrid. On seeing the photo I wondered what our koala was doing there. Was only towards the end I realised what you were on about
Our koalas suffered badly in the fires
https://youtu.be/7MURGY0Z9KA
Oh my! This is so pertinent zingrid. Let’s hope we can save everything. In a strange way, this poem is both beautiful and stirring. It moves me.
That means so much to me if my poetry touches the hearts of others. Thank you so much 🙏
Quite profound, 🧡
Thank you 😊
Your apocalyptic poem doesn’t seem so far from reality these days. I am praying for a change in 2021 that will allow the U.S. and the world to better address climate change and the effects on the environment.
I am with you on that 🙏
Ingrid, my dear, this is a masterpiece. The power of your words is beyond. Bravo.
xoxoxo…
Thank you so much for these words Gabriela: this means so much to me 🙏😊🙏
My pleasure, Ingrid.
xoxoxo..
Beautifully written, Ingrid! <3 Unfortunately, I think the situation is accurately described. I wish our leaders would pay more attention! All the best! Cheryl