by

Fades to Black

Pixabay image by Susan Cipriano

A double Etheree for Colleen’s mid-month poetry photo challenge. This month’s photo was selected by Jane Dougherty.

Fades to Black

white

ice melts

in trickles

etching gullies

calving blue glaciers

until oceans submerge

gray ashes of field and farm

when birds and butterflies succumb

will we bray for justice, thoughts and prayers

proclaim false innocence, righteous despair

or rue our excuses and pay our debts

spill tears for an absent tomorrow

bewildered as our children drown

between islands of lost trees

rooted in salt waters

among dying leaves

a wasted world

of green life

fades to

black

 

 

123 thoughts on “Fades to Black”

  1. Colleen’s 2019 #Tanka Tuesday #Poet of the Week & Honorable Mention(s), No. 145, #PhotoPrompt | Word Craft ~ Prose & Poetry says:
    October 25, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    […] week, I’ve chosen D. Wallace Peach as the Poet of the Week for her Double Etheree poem featured below. Next month, Diana will select […]

    Liked by 1 person

  2. amidivit says:
    December 28, 2019 at 2:14 am

    Beautiful.
    Can visit my blog Rendezvous with Black – a journey into self discovery as we wrap 2019
    https://passionsnetin.com/2019/12/27/rendezvous-with-black/

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Julie Holmes, author says:
    October 5, 2019 at 4:38 am

    Wow! This is so intense, Diana! And so poignant. And so “now”. Love it! Saddened by it, but it is truth. May more of us have the courage Greta has to call out the leaders who live for today without regard for the future.

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      October 5, 2019 at 8:45 am

      Greta was amazing, huh? It is sad. I don’t know how the deniers expect their great grandchildren to live on a wrecked planet – as if they don’t need water, air, and food, and geopolitical stability. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem!

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Vashti Q says:
    October 3, 2019 at 11:26 am

    Hi, Diana! Wow! Your poem is powerful and moving. I loved it! Congratulations on winning “Poet of the Week” you deserved it. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Marietta Rodgers says:
    September 27, 2019 at 12:58 pm

    This poem is apropos for the current climate. It’s depressing that the government we have is just making it worse.

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      September 28, 2019 at 8:42 am

      I know. It’s worse than plain old apathy when the destruction is intentional. Do Republicans somehow think their grandchildren can live on a burned and flooded planet without clean water, clean air, and food? Hello?

      Like

  6. robinleeann says:
    September 27, 2019 at 11:01 am

    Hey! I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award! Check it out here: https://robinleeann.com/2019/09/27/the-sunshine-blogger-award/

    Like

  7. Jessica Bakkers says:
    September 26, 2019 at 1:54 am

    Ooo, powerful, dark and beautiful all at once. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  8. rivrvlogr says:
    September 24, 2019 at 6:47 am

    A dark picture, beautifully penned.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. officialosi says:
    September 23, 2019 at 9:45 pm

    This is wonderfully done 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

    Liked by 1 person

  10. jazzytower says:
    September 23, 2019 at 6:09 pm

    Congratulations Diana:) I loved your poem. A good choice for poet of the week:))
    I am looking forward to your photo prompt.

    Pat R

    Liked by 1 person

  11. H.R.R. Gorman says:
    September 23, 2019 at 4:57 pm

    Excellent environmental themes – works well with the Greta Thunberg stuff in the news right now.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Jan Sikes says:
    September 23, 2019 at 12:23 pm

    Brilliantly done, Diana! And as others have already said – chilling! Congrats!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Miriam Hurdle says:
    September 23, 2019 at 12:13 pm

    A great climate change poem, Diana. This should be a concern and interest to mankind. There is a UN summit today on this urgent issue!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      September 23, 2019 at 1:10 pm

      I wish the US was on board with addressing climate change instead of sabotaging every effort by other nations. I’m hopeful that Trump will be GONE in a bit over a year, and we can all breathe easier. Thanks so much for the visit and the kind comment, Miriam. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      • Miriam Hurdle says:
        September 23, 2019 at 3:52 pm

        I do hope that there will be a change when the election comes around. I can’t believe that Trump didn’t attend the UN summit on climate. We still have time to save the planet. It will be a change in human behaviors and living styles.

        Great poem for the timely matter, Diana! ❤

        Liked by 1 person

  14. michnavs says:
    September 23, 2019 at 9:04 am

    A brilliant double etheree Di…i love how vivid those images are even with the use of short verses …i can see them clearly…

    Liked by 1 person

  15. J.D. Riso says:
    September 23, 2019 at 8:50 am

    So much in so little words. I love how it starts off so starkly, blossoms, and then withers into black. You are so gifted at seeing into images and sharing your interpretation.

    Like

  16. Jina Bazzar says:
    September 23, 2019 at 8:28 am

    I like how it started with white and ended with black. Sad but beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Teri Polen says:
    September 23, 2019 at 8:13 am

    Brilliant! And so very timely.

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      September 23, 2019 at 9:23 am

      Yeah, I get depressed when I think about how deeply into denial the human race is, in general. It’s probably too late to stop climate damage now, but we can take steps to preserve the planet for our grandchildren’s children if we start now. 😦 Fingers crossed.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Silent Hour says:
    September 23, 2019 at 3:00 am

    It’s scary. As it should be…
    Love, B.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    September 23, 2019 at 2:59 am

    Stunning Diana.. paints a very visual image of where we are today.. hugs ♥

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Colleen’s 2019 #Tanka Tuesday #Poet of the Week & Honorable Mention(s), No. 145, #PhotoPrompt – Colleen M. Chesebro says:
    September 23, 2019 at 12:04 am

    […] week, I’ve chosen D. Wallace Peach as the Poet of the Week for her Double Etheree poem featured below. Next month, Diana will select […]

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Linda Visman - wangiwriter says:
    September 22, 2019 at 11:03 pm

    That is brilliant, Diana! Perfect for the current situation. 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  22. dgkaye says:
    September 22, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    Eloquent relevance my friend. You did a most beautiful job with the image and message, which many of us seem to have gravitated to. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Steven Baird says:
    September 22, 2019 at 1:30 pm

    So beautifully written, Diana. Masterful imagery.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. inese says:
    September 22, 2019 at 12:03 pm

    Beautiful poem, Diana. Very powerful and sad transition from the white to the black. We are all guilty, we use too much resources unnecessary these days. I don’t see people change. We are all doomed…

    Liked by 1 person

  25. memadtwo says:
    September 22, 2019 at 11:51 am

    This scenario is much on all our minds (except those of our leaders, strangely…) (K)

    Liked by 1 person

  26. thecontentedcrafter says:
    September 22, 2019 at 11:48 am

    Trees are my favourite rant currently Diana plant, save, plant, save, plant, save!! Citizens can start doing this. My little local park has recently been the target of a guerrilla group who planted seven trees and who care for them without ever being seen. Park management got very indignant but doesn’t dare pull em out or the locals would riot 😀 Your etheree, bleakly stands true!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Jacquie Biggar says:
    September 22, 2019 at 11:15 am

    Time is running out, there’s no denying that. Minds are changing and new initiatives are in the works, hopefully not too late to save our world for future generations.
    Thoughtful poem, Diane ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  28. EDC Writing/Believing Sight Unseen says:
    September 22, 2019 at 10:50 am

    The world turns – leaders spin, no wrong, let profit bleed, tears fall,
    ankle deep, sky grey smear, smoke screen, fake, new shade of blue, too late, get real… Diana, you wrote what most feel.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Marje @ Kyrosmagica says:
    September 22, 2019 at 10:35 am

    Such a powerful and disturbing poem. Let’s just hope the worse case scenario doesn’t come to pass but it is troubling.

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Colleen M. Chesebro says:
    September 22, 2019 at 10:32 am

    Powerful words, my dear, Diana. Most of us drifted into the climate change arena with this image. I couldn’t help it, either. I only wish our elected officials really understood the crisis. Maybe we need all new elected officials. LOL! 😀 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Jill Weatherholt says:
    September 22, 2019 at 10:21 am

    Very powerful, Diana. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Teagan R. Geneviene says:
    September 22, 2019 at 10:15 am

    Diana, this piece is breathtaking. So vivid. You did a beautiful job. Hugs on the wing.

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      September 22, 2019 at 10:19 am

      Thanks, Teagan. Rather bleak but the apathy about the climate worries me. I’m glad you liked the poem though! Happy Writing, my friend. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      • Teagan R. Geneviene says:
        September 22, 2019 at 10:27 am

        Such things need to be expressed. It has me worried too. Even though I’m happy for the moisture, I have seen much, much more rain than I expected since I moved to the desert. While 45% humidity is nothing in the southeast, it’s unheard of here — and we’ve had a lot of days with that much. (10% would be closer to normal). Yes, it is very troubling. Hugs.

        Liked by 1 person

        • D. Wallace Peach says:
          September 22, 2019 at 10:36 am

          Well, the rain is probably much needed, but the weather does seem to be shifting and that’s concerning. We’ve had unusual weather in Oregon too – no summer this year. I’m wondering what winter will bring.

          Like

  33. kioratash says:
    September 22, 2019 at 10:01 am

    Achingly beautiful. I tend to step back from the dystopian because it hurts too much, but you caught me first with the image and then with the journey.
    Still I wish for the happy ending.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Chelsea Owens says:
    September 22, 2019 at 9:59 am

    Always a master of words. ❤

    (Did you intend to ‘calve’ blue glaciers?)

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Steve Tanham says:
    September 22, 2019 at 9:39 am

    Lovely ‘transition’ Diana.

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Daniel Kemp says:
    September 22, 2019 at 9:14 am

    I must be honest and confess my dislike for Haka’s or Taka’s, or whatever they are called. Also, poetry that it is meant to conform to a certain shape, or contain lines with the same number of words, or come to that any form of writing where someone decides how a piece should look. However, I read the above and found it to be simply divine. Simplistic harmony coming straight from the poets heart. Superb work!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      September 22, 2019 at 9:19 am

      Thank you so much for the lovely comment, Daniel. I actually share your bias, which is why rhyming often doesn’t work for me either. It’s a challenge to make a rigid form feel fluid. I’m still not quite satisfied with this one, but it’s close. Have a wonderful day and thanks for the visit!

      Liked by 1 person

  37. balroop2013 says:
    September 22, 2019 at 9:08 am

    A powerful outcry Diana. I believe in that one man who dares to stand against ten deniers, one good deed that vanquishes the devilish mouths, one streak of light that ignites the sky.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. robbiesinspiration says:
    September 22, 2019 at 9:06 am

    Oooh, Diana, this is so overwhelming. I have no words.

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Jane Dougherty says:
    September 22, 2019 at 8:20 am

    I like the fading away too, very effective! I think those thoughts and prayers are going to go on giving for a while to come. I had a comment from a Jesus person on the subject of the misery climate change creates for the poor in countries we don’t care about, and her reaction was, it is so sad, but in this world, we can’t expect anything better. And we can’t have them over here because our first responsibility is to our own unborn children…I despair.

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      September 22, 2019 at 8:30 am

      And the saddest part is that there are things every individual and government can do. It’s interesting to me that many Jesus people don’t believe in caring for life, children, and the poor. What Jesus are they referring too? I don’t know that one. AND, it amazes me how many people think that they can survive on a wrecked planet. Hello? You’re free to stop by and vent whenever you want, Jane. 😀 Loved your image prompt.

      Like

      • Jane Dougherty says:
        September 22, 2019 at 8:55 am

        I think every country has its share of deniers, the ones who say the climate’s always been like this, up and down, and who’s counting the songbirds anyway? As for the Jesus lovers totally lacking in compassion when it comes to actually doing something (I don’t count praying), let them inherit the earth once they’ve trashed it through inertia and indifference.
        Glad to find a safe haven for venting. It isn’t easy in these liberated, open-minded days 🙂
        Glad you enjoyed the prompt.

        Liked by 1 person

  40. thelonelyauthorblog says:
    September 22, 2019 at 7:50 am

    Meaningful and beautifully written.
    Especially loved these lines….

    between islands of lost trees
    rooted in salt waters
    among dying leaves

    Liked by 1 person

  41. ecopoet says:
    September 22, 2019 at 7:26 am

    poem of depth

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Writing to Freedom says:
    September 22, 2019 at 7:18 am

    Wow Diana. Exquisitely dark and evocative poem. May we wake up before the drowning of our children and world.

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Annette Rochelle Aben says:
    September 22, 2019 at 7:17 am

    Wow! More than cool

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.