how will we drink
the dust
can you tell me
we are burning
from above
draining
from below
there’ll be nothing left
soon
but the holes
where we mined
and the cracks
in the earth
that were once held together
by water
and still it’s not
enough
we have to take
another barrel out
send it
all the way
to china
like taking
your own heart
and selling it
to the highest bidder
leaving you
behind
like a husk
after harvest
rattling empty
with every passing breeze
that passes
by
where we are left
to stand
a ragged bunch
of scarecrow skeletons
still craving
not knowing
yet
that we have already
died
and the dead
can no more serve
any
worldly purpose
~
From the News. The miserable bloody news.
I well remember how dry Australia was 30 years ago when we drove the whole way round.26,000 kilometers. Central Australia had no surface water the places we went to. None. In the west the camper parks would toss you out if you were seen to be running water. Even in the north, in the washroom, no one ran water while washing their teeth. And Australia exports water to China??? In Canada we have an abundance of water and we give it for free to Nestle to bottle and take it away. Other lakes and rivers are being polluted. Water is the gold of the future. Maybe the gold of today!!
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It is impossible to comprehend how decisions like this can be allowed, Anne.
I believe we are not very far away from becoming importers of milk, if you can believe it.
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Frank it is shocking to think your water is being sold to China with your desperate need for it for firefighting. Anne, here in Michigan a northern county fought Nestle to keep them from sucking water for virtually free. How can we stop this madness?
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Just apallling, Li.
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I pray Bernie Sanders gets elected President. We need him. I pray you get some honest leadership that will halt the madness also.
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I hope he turns out to be all that he should be, Li. I suspect you have a lot more Trump in your future, though.
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Frank, I fear if the monster stays in office there will be rioting and worse. The level of loathing the American people feel for him is difficult to put into words. The grass roots movement for Bernie has been growing since 2016. I have hope, big hope.
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He is on a role, Li. Keep your head down, I reckon. Trouble coming.
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Further proof – if any were still needed – how for many politicians it’s all about money and/or power. And to hell with the electorate.
On another note, although I’ve been largely hiding from Social Media for a couple of weeks, and don’t intend to be on it too much for another couple, I’ve finished and much enjoyed Walk Away Silver Heart, and will post my review in a few days.
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So much proof of corruption that is just ignored, Mick. Sad times.
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the collection, Mick. I’m just about done with the publication process for it, now. Ready to start refining the second collection.
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Excellent. I’ll write my review later today (with luck!).
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I’ve just been challenged by Amazon re my use of the public domain material (ie the original poem)
Could get interesting . . .
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Oh? I’m no expert, but I suspect that comes under the fair use excuse – but wise to research it, I guess!
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Resolved, Mick. They just needed to me to swear on mother’s grave that I was doing new work and not exploiting something that is freely available.
Gave me an excuse to further revise, though. There is nothing further that I can imagine doing to make the e-book sing.
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Result.
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This one is seething
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Yes. Seething hopelessly, Derrick.
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😦
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Reblogged this on firefly465 and commented:
Powerful from Frank Prem
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Thank you, Adele.
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It’s mind boggling how these decisions are made, especially with the natural need for water sources. Heartbreaking.
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Nothing trumps greed, it seems.
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We used to boycott Nestle baby formula in tbe 70s
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We seem to have smaller and more fragile voices now.
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Or they are overshadowed by boisterous uncaring politicians
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Bluff and bluster has become the norm, Cheryl. Very poor.
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Agreed
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Reblogged this on Once Upon a Time…. and commented:
This stunningly beautiful poem portrays the one source that humans and all living things can not survive without – water, and in such a way, that it brings the truth to the surface of all our fears.
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Frank is an amazing poet, isn’t he? I feel so fortunate to have discovered his work.
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Liz, thank you. I just love the writing and telling stories. To find folk (like yourself) enjoying the work as well is an extraordinary encouragement.
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🙂
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