Ingrid Wilson of Experiments in Fiction has put together a collection of poems called The Athropocene Hymnal (63 poems in all, from 34 poets). Publication date is July 24th. Many of the poets, including myself are regular contributors to the blog earthweal. I have 2 poems in the collection (thanks, Ingrid, for including me!). All profits from the sale of the book will go to the World Wild Life Fund. So be sure to check out Ingrid’s blog on July 24th!
Brendan over at earthweal has published an interview with Ingrid and also more details about the publication, so check out Brendan’s post here.
The collage on the cover was contributed by the very talented Kerfe Roig.
In his earthweal prompt this week, Brendan says :
For this week’s challenge, let’s take up her (Ingrid’s) call and write a poem of the Anthropocene which does not compromise.
This is a poem I wrote a while back (it appeared before on earthweal) and previously published on this blog, but think it fits the challenge.
Fracking Song
You’re standing on the corner
Watching the trucks go rolling past
Pumping out their diesel fumes
Pumping out that carbon gas
It’s the middle of winter
And it’s twenty below
And that gas just sits there
With nowhere to go.
Something’s wrong in the valley
Babies stillborn
Ten in one year
And they call that the norm
Something’s wrong in the valley
Something toxic in the ground
Something wrong in the valley
Since the frackers came to town.
That rock’s been down forever
With its hydrocarbon payload
When they blow it all apart
They can’t control where it goes
And that water that’s left standing
Evaporating in the sun
The residue will be with us
Long after they are gone
Something’s wrong in the valley
Babies stillborn
Ten in one year
And they call that the norm
Something’s wrong in the valley
Something toxic in the ground
Something wrong in the valley
Since the frackers came to town.
You can blame the politicians
The special interests groups
Blame the fracking company
They all don’t give a fuck
There’s only one thing they understand
One thing that they know
Keep riding that fossil fool train
As far as it will go.
There’s something wrong in the valley
Babies stillborn
Placentas like ribbons
And they call that the norm
Something’s wrong in the valley
Something toxic in the ground
Something wrong in the valley
Since the frackers came to town
Stopdraggingthepanda 
My heart. I’m so sorry I just discovered your beautiful talent. The pain in my heart, you sing into verse. Truth. Thank you for sharing your gift.
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Thank you, much appreciated!
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Yeah, that’s uncompromising, all right! Love the “fossil fool train”!
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Thanks Eilene!
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Something wrong indeed
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wow ! that’s one powerful poem !
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Thank you John!
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Ah, Jim, this needs a tune. Fantastic use of repetition, and some great lines. I can see Woody Guthrie nodding in approval.
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Thanks Sarah!
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I agree about the Woody Guthrie comparison. Money talks and shrieks and drowns out everything else. (K)
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Thanks Kerfe!
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Something wrong in the valley, for sure. I am glad you addressed the insanity of fracking, Jim. The rhythmic metre really accentuates the message in this poem. Bravo.
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Thanks Sherry!
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Something very very wrong in so many valleys. This truth poem is an uncompromisingly sad and beautiful song.
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Thank you, Lindi!
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Most appropriate, JIM! I wish they would all frack off…
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I’m glad you wrote about the fracking in Canada. It sounds so bad. I wish people would wake up to the horrors these extractive mining processes unleash.
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A chug-a-lug rolling mace of accusation powers this song. Fracking is a dual damage, sucking the earth’s marrow to destroy the atmosphere while sickening those nearby with fracking chemicals. The larger place in hell is for those many who have such bland acceptance of that.
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Thanks Brendan!!
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Beautifully written. So incredibly sad. We are certainly slowly poisoning every part of our earth.
This is a beautiful piece bringing us back to the horror of the damage that is done where money, greed and bigger and better moves to the front of the line.
The death of the babies repeated is a very powerful way to drive the point home.
Great piece. Thank you. Hugs 🤗 Joni
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Thank you Joni, much appreciated!
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You are welcome. You mention fracking in this house and get ready for an onslaught of statistics, information overload. So damaging to our beautiful world. ❤️ love Joni
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