In My Dreams
In My Dreams
I have climate anxiety, and really always have. My parents were very focused on the environment, and pollution was terrible in the 1970s when I was a child. Thankfully, many things were addressed, and laws passed. The Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970, and then the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, Clean Water Act in 1972, and the Endangered Species Act in 1973. I’m hopeful that in a similar way, the trend toward renewable energy and the fight to stop climate change will accomplish great things during the 2020s. Sometimes, for our sanity, we have to focus on the beauty of the world. But lurking below, these days, is always the fear for our future in a world that won’t stop burning fossil fuels. Writing down my thoughts and feelings helps me process. So thanks for reading my poem!
In My Dreams is printed in dark blue and gold ink on Rives BFK printmaking paper. It is an edition of 20 prints. The image is 11 x 14 inches and the paper is 15 x 18 inches.
In My Dreams
In my dreams I fly,
to a place full of sunshine.
Tall, slender aspens quake and rustle,
giving the breeze a voice.
There is a cottage with a garden,
and a fairy tale chimney.
A creek chatters
over smooth brown rocks,
telling stories all day and night.
There is a feeling of peace.
Nothing is wrecked.
The birds still sing,
and bears eat wild berries.
There is still space to roam
for all the wild creatures.
We aren’t too sad,
or appalled at our hubris.
There is still ice in the arctic,
and there are still trees in the jungle.
We can still breathe the sweet, fresh air.
We can still pretend we are fine.