"parched w/c"
The Long Dry
by Constance
Late winter snow
squall dropped eight
inches. After six years
of drought it’s not enough,
not now. Ranchers pain.
White flakes blow across
needy pastures without
sinking in. The coalbed
methane water that was
to save them bubbles
merrily from the spigot.
The land suffocates
in alkali silence.
*Originally Published in Wyoming Paintbrush
13 comments:
Powerful!
Especially the ending:
The land suffocates
in alkali silence.
Stark! Hits very hard!
word by word
A poem for our times.
"alkali silence" is a stupendous phrase! And "The Long Dry," is a really good title.
If you like the oil wars, you're gonna love the water wars.
Leonard - Sometimes you find just the right phrase...
gautami - Thanks!
Keith - Thank you!
Richard - I don't like either war, but no one gave me a choice! :)
Amazing how much water it will take to catch up...nice work!
tumblewords - more water than we got!
thanks. :)
The long thirst makes the craving.
Oftentimes, this could also be true even among humans.
We wanted it bad, really bad. And once we get it, we can't just get enough of anything.
I like the double meaning that this poem could speak when the sentiments are humanized.
I wish you well.
~ Jeques
jeques - layers are good... I think we put double meaning in everything we write...
You can really feel the bleakness and desolation of the land. Very well done!
Thanks, Meghan. A wet spring makes all the difference - picture wise.
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