"this is sixth form poetry, not Keats or Yeats"
Within the hidden pores of ancient rock, Clandestine remnants of our past lie trapped And whisper of the future they unlock. As these seductive murmurs leave us rapt, We penetrate the soil with straws of steel To drink from fresh reserves we find untapped. But first we need to break the stony seal, … Read more
As weathers change the birds migrate, Flocking en masse like living freight; They have decanted overseas, The notes of birdsong on the breeze. In mapping out when this takes place, We listen for a vocal trace; And sift through sounds with expertise, The notes of birdsong on the breeze. But straining every avian … Read more
You roamed amongst the distant glens and lochs, Untamed in your ascendency and pride; Traversing pristine firths and folded rocks, An apex that was grey and yellow eyed. And then we trapped and took you from your land, Your pelts and hides we hung as tainted plaques; Our own predation then started as planned But … Read more
As our oceans warm from global change, Vibrant corals dissolve and collapse; Reefs in the Northern Red Sea Are sheltered from the stress. But local events Bring pollution; In the end They will Break. This is a nonet, inspired by recent research which has found that excess nutrients from human activities may compromise the resilience … Read more
Your thoughts begin to interlock, Surroundings yet again the same; Then suddenly a cold, hard shock, As neurons fire up in pain. Surroundings yet again the same, Defensively you start to clutch; As neurons fire up in pain, You flinch at every lingered touch. Defensively you start to clutch, As something deep within … Read more
Amongst the blue-eyed leaves you made your beds, Conflicting patterns sailing on the breeze; Then weeds appeared with green and narrow heads, A nursery that couldn’t help but please. You left behind the flowers of your youth, And focused all your growth on this new truth; So when this future host became waylaid, Your … Read more
A ring of coral Floating on seas of hubris – Lost beneath the waves This is a haiku, inspired by recent research which has found that most atolls will be uninhabitable by the middle of the 21st century because of sea-level rise and flooding caused by climate change. An atoll is a ring-shaped reef, island, … Read more
Amongst the icy peaks and stony seas, We count the plants that call such heights a home; Traversing every sudden gale and breeze, To better understand how they have grown. Across the years of data in this zone, Diversity increased at quickened pace; Accelerating at a speed unknown. So even in the most secluded place, … Read more
As climates change and rainfalls slow, Our trees adapt the way they grow; For every water-seeking root, The greenery becomes dilute. A forest we no longer know. Now forced to reap the seeds we sow Above the ground and deep below, The outcome of forbidden fruit. As climates change. This biome that begins … Read more
As mountains break apart at snow-packed seams, They spew their powdered cargo without care; Destroying life with frozen, hoary streams, Their mass and scope now tied to warming air. The wounds of every broken, shattered limb, Reduces what was pure to something grim; The sound of snowflakes falling in the spring, A warning of … Read more