Shishmaref

This is a true story from a documentary.

 

a tiny island among many tiny islands

scattered above the arctic circle

scattered on the icy gray sea

these islands and their peoples

close to the crown of this planet

have a relationship that stretches back

four thousand years.

here they and their forefathers

were born, hunted, foraged,

fished and flourished until

they were buried in the permafrost.

this tiny place is Shishmaref.

but now the sea is devouring

Shishmaref.

in quiet voices, the people say

chunks of the island fall away and into the sea

sometimes somebody’s house goes too

 

in quiet voices, the people say

the storms are stronger

the ice comes later and leaves sooner

there is less game, fewer seals

 

blood on the snow

smoke in the sky

on a small ice floe

sits a lone polar bear

tell him and the people of Shishmaref

that there is no change in climate

look into their eyes

and tell them we have done nothing

to change the rhythms

of the earth

 

in quiet voices, the people say

the government wants to move our houses

to the interior of the island

but the island is shrinking so fast

how long will that solution last?

this is our island

this is our home

this is Shishmaref

blood on the snow

smoke in the sky

thunder knells in the gray sky

 

 

 

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

A sad but true story of Shishmaref where people have connection to their land going back centuries ago only to find out that the island they love and cherish is falling away in the ocean and nothing they can do to save it. You have captured that helpless situation marvelously...Splendid...:)

[The Verse: A Poetry Jou..]

Oh, I remember the coalition for relocation in 2010, very well done. A whimsical read that is easy to enjoy.