The tolling of bells

The tolling of bells

A Poem by Marie Anzalone
"

This is a sample chapter from my upcoming book "Observations for a World on Fire," a tome of works dedicated to the philosophy and ethics of climate change

"
From Chapter 5: The Tolling of Bells 

30.

What came first? The beauty

or the eye? The tongue or the word?

They say, we can touch because

we were born into a word that wanted

to be touched; we think

because the world wanted to be

understood; we love because the world

wanted us to love it. So why

do we now teach our children

to touch nothing, think nothing,

love nothing but themselves?

What did we lose first? The heart,

or the hope it carried?

 

31.

A ship at sea

will light a distress signal, a beacon

for rescue when it is hit by a rogue wave,

a torpedo, a tsunami.

I walk through a landscape

ravaged by climate crisis

and see a million beacons burning,

a million species begging

for us to see them, feel them, know them-

beseeching us to help them,

and ten million people

more interested in the lives

of Meghan and Harry.

Who will come

to our aid when the last

domino falls and we are the ones

who need rescuing?

 

I am a woman of nature,

I am a radical, I believe, we can still

turn this thing around; we can turn

the rudder on a boat the width

and breadth of 7 continents;

and it will not take all of us, but it will

require the participation

of most of us. Where, or where

are my sisters, my wild tigress sisters

who will come and fight with me?

I want to share my vision

with someone who, for once,

is not going to merely laugh at me.

 

Ask me, what do you feel,

how will you make it work?

My words will never be enough,

but maybe, just maybe,

they will light a cleansing fire

in someone stronger than me. 

 


© 2024 Marie Anzalone


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Reviews

I would love to sit down and discuss and argue, sympathise and agree, empathise and understand all this with you. I will certainly buy the book to get more context.

Posted 2 Weeks Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

What wonderful, insightful words dropping with clever thoughts.

I love it!

Posted 1 Month Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.


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Added on September 28, 2024
Last Updated on September 28, 2024

Author

Marie Anzalone
Marie Anzalone

Xecaracoj, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala



About
Bilingual (English and Spanish) poet, essayist, novelist, grant writer, editor, and technical writer working in Central America. "A poet's work is to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to ta.. more..

Writing