last evening
the sun nearing the horizon
here on Bird Heaven Hill
in the Southern Hills

haze from wildfires
in British Columbia
over 2,000 miles away
smudged the sky revealing

it is a small world
here on Earth Home
where all is connected
and ecosystems are fragile

our human impact is large
our neglect, denial, and apathy strong
our building in fragile ecosystems
our waste fueling climate change

structures fall into the sea
risking homes and lives
wildfires burn out of control
depleting ozone

now peering into the haze
clearly revealing our
human ego, hubris, and will
“Only you” saith Smokey the Bear

Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
July 8, 2021

art images
U.S. Forest Service
unattributed