grief

how do I mourn
rain in summer
extinct species’
deaths I don't know

is there a space my grief can just be
a space my grief can heal

will there be a time my voice sets free
this eulogy
that haunts my nights

will there be anyone
anyone not numb
who comforts me

my tears tired of being defended
they stop
Notes

Increasing attention is being given to the impact that global issues such as environmental degradation and global warming can have on a person's emotional well-being. In December 2018, journalist Avichai Scher reported for NBC News on climate grief and how climate change is producing a growing emotional toll. Jennifer Atkinson, an associate professor at the University of Washington, even hosts a podcast on climate grief and eco anxiety called “Facing it.” This poem looks into the climate grief humans can experience and how these emotions might be looked upon by others.


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