Smog Poem by Raymond Farrell
Smog
Today
As I sit
Under the locust tree
I remember
It was just yesterday
When the sky was clear blue
And the sun shone brightly
And the pollution index
Was a moderate 80
But in the night
Smog
Moved in silently
With its hazy cloak
Of oppressive air
It descended on Hangzhou
And now
As I gaze
Towards the West Gate
Of the university
The office towers
In the near distance
Clearly visible yesterday
Stand as faint outlines of themselves
The pollution index
Is a hazardous for health 304
And yet the population
Hesitates to complain in public
But proceed somnambulantly
In near robotic fashion
Going about
What they would call life
The great economic
Chinese miracle
Is now on shaky ground
But people here strive
Ever harder
To serve
The god of materialism
Most want to own a car
Which means more air pollution
And things - you know things
Made in factories
So more smelting, more toxic metals
Spewed into the air
Then rained down upon the soil
Contaminating
What is eaten and the drinking water
If this is progress
The progression
Is definitely not
Towards a healthier future.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
4/19/2024 9:35:35 PM # 1.0.0.1119
I have seen pictures and it is shocking. I understand that wood fires (for heating homes and cooking) is also a big factor. I hope China wakes up soon for the sake of its wonderful people
You are right wood fires are a big factor but also coal fired power plants and factories and vehicle pollution etc it is an ecological disaster. Unfortunately it is a dictatorship and the people suffer without any say whatsoever into the matter.