My climate change poem “Why We Hide Underground - A Climate Change Forecast” was played on the BBC Radio Bristol Upload show on Weds 3rd of November 2021 at the time of the Cop 26 conference - and the host Adam Crowther interviewed me about it - Thanks Adam

”Why We Hide Underground - A Climate Change Forecast”

fire

now raged above

survivors sheltering underground

in burnt out basements

tunnels

anywhere

that was protection from the heat and gases

that comprised the revenge of Gaia

as she adjusted to the century of burning of carbon fuels

of the burning down of the forests for ranches and farms

from the blind headlong rush for profit

heedless of the ravages to the ecosphere

the signs had been building like a cliff

a nightmare foretold

but the politicians were in with the corporations

so it had come to this 

the sheltering of the remnants of the races

from the heat storms raging above

of course, at first

the fire brigades had tried to douse the fires

dowse the burning trees and peat with water

from trucks, hydrants and planes

but every time

one blaze was thought to be out

within days it was raging again

kindled from the heat below the land surface

the national governments had tried to stop

the floods of heat refugees

from fleeing across borders

but, batons and razor wire

were no match for desperate crowds of thousands

even live rounds shot above their heads

had no effect

these  extra mouths and the need for shelter

overwhelmed the local health and welfare services

outbreaks of deadly diseases were common

in the background the temperatures rose

the water reserves diminished

the grain growing areas of the world

grew parched by heat

as their output decreased 

populations began to starve

food riots broke out all over

these led to regional and then national conflicts

over water and food

national armed forces became homeland securities

defending walls and wire emplacements

against marauding gangs and hungry mobs

searching for shops, houses and warehouses to loot

that is why we hide underground

we wish our forebears had taken more care