The World We Live In

 The World We Live In

A poet writes his metaphors burning on a page.

A glacier melts after ten thousand years, says “Stop the carbon haze.”

A real politician speaks volumes with deeds, not just bluster.

A wild river enters a city, and loses most of its luster.

The poet reads his flaming words; they’re doused with listeners’ tears.

A throng of climate-change protesters expresses existential fears.

A dictator invades a country, and thinks they’ll quickly surrender.

The invasion fails, the world sees him as a power-mad pretender.

Mass shootings occur in this country, one after another.

Whatever happened to people abiding by the law of love your brother.

A peacemaker respectfully gives every man their due.

He tells another man, “See me. I, inside, am you.”