Woody, Can You See?

[indar]

Woody, Can You See?

 

My lily pond scummed

with ash. I filled it in

and planted succulents.

 

It's not the threat of fire 

that lurks the background

of blue-sky days

but citrus groves dying

inland. Desalinization lulls,

it's a waiting game.

 

I'm older than Donald Trump,

(get your own while you can)

we'll both be dead

by the time oil floats

the water wars.

 

So why do I care what happens

to this land is your land..

this land is my land,

redwood forests, amber grain?

 

Maybe my eternal soul will see.

Wouldn't that be Holy Hell?

[Colm Roe]

Oh indy...this is fab.
This land will always be your/our land.
It's all we have; as long as we remember.
It's late here, but I'll be back.
Strong writing.
 

[Tracy Mitchell]

I love this!  You present a strong Narrator's voice with plenty of perspective, irony, and a dash of sarcasm.  
Linking the N w/Trump is a fascinating twist.  No less depressing, though.

Your images are well formed and well regulated -- the pond, the citrus grove, the oil floating on water. 
The theme is strongly presented. I love the phrase "oil floats the water wars".  And we suppose they are coming.
Yes, what would Woody think.  
Great closing.

You are hitting your stride.

T

[Matty11]

Good question, good title, and good poem. Personally, I could have done without the Trump baggage, but I suspect that is just me!

best

Matty

[Mark]

Good honest writing, a gentle sort of slip-slide narrative that leads to a solid conclusion. I remember a bit of an uproar over Nestle being on track to bottle vast amounts of California natural water a few years back; wonder how that panned out.   

[Tracy Mitchell]

I could have done without the Trump baggage. . . .
 

I think that every day.

[indar]

Oh indy...this is fab.
This land will always be your/our land.
It's all we have; as long as we remember.
It's late here, but I'll be back.
Strong writing.

 Thank you so much Colm. Forgive me for not getting back to you for so long. I felt uncertain about how this poem would be read and wanted to get more feedback---it took 10 days so now I can ask you what the actual physical land is worth once the oil rights, the water rights have been sold off and the right to self-determination by fair and free elections have been abridged in so many ways. And who is at fault? Does limiting water-use by putting out rain barrels and planting low water need succulents, plug-in cars, a couple of solar panels and desalinization plants just act as forms of denial and distract from the real issues?

Tracy and Phil, Thank you both for your comments. I don't see Trump/narrator as  causes but as different kinds of victims/symptoms. Tracy--as to your second comment: although I am trying to see Trump as much a victim of "evil forces" (said with tongue in cheek) as perpetrator I'm not doing very well. What is to become of us?

http://www.newsweek.com/race-buy-worlds-water-73893

Mark--I don't remember a dust up over CA water rights in particular but I know developing countries are selling theirs and will rue the day. Thanks for the read and positive comments

[Mark]

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/en ... 928071001/

As far as the presidency goes, the choice was between a catastrophe and a disaster - the disaster won.



 

[indar]

Mark--your link bumped me until I agreed to respond to a poll. Here is another one:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-n ... story.html

[Mark]

Mm. I read that one too when i did my bit of mini-research. water is the new oil in a post-carbon world.