I first wrote this back in the 70s, when our primary concern was the effects of pollution and acid rain. That was way before we had even heard about global warming or climate change. Considering some of the insane rhetoric coming out of the USA right now, I thought this would be a good time to put this up. God help our grandchildren.
 
Gone, gone, the days are gone,
When ignorance was blameless
The future bright and clear
As a sun washed summer morning
 
Gone, gone, the safe days,
gone, gone, the clean ways,
gone just like the green trees,
black to the heaving sky
 
Fly, fly, the tears of the world,
Fly and join the smoke clouds,
the wind-blown grief
that once was rain
 
Grey, grey, the ashen faces,
drawn in grief and quick regret,
gone, the last chance to correct,
all that we did wrong
 
Long gone, the hope
that the nightmare would not come,
long gone the chance to wake
to that clear, blue summer’s day,
Gone, gone, for ever,
in the smog and wreck of storm
 
Fly, fly, the tears of the world,
fly, fly and join the sea-fret,
join the wind-blown grief
that once was rain
 
Fly the bright, clear, wails of pain,
fly the scream of rage,
against all those who made it happen,
against all those who watched and knew
 
Too late to pity starving children,
drowning animals and plants,
suffocated trees and birds,
rotting soil and poisoned air
 
Know that all too soon the end will come
The desperate gasp, one final breath
Before the smog greyed curtain falls
on this once magical mistake
 
Fly, fly, the tears of the world,
and join the wind-blown grief
that once was rain
 
 
© David Hermelin 2016