Transitioning Time

Thembi torches my soul
as she talks and touches
on the imperiled wailing whales,
fuming fisheries, slimy oil spills,
crying communities and ecosystems.

She laments lamentations of the advent
of hurtful heatwaves, of the melting sea ice,
of busy business deals that endanger the safety
of dwindling species, of extreme weather events,
and a capacity for a solar and wind energy transition.

Thembi touches on a touching reality, a huge nerve center,
I have listened to her pleas, never has the activist said this:
my apologies, populaces, it’s pathetic that I cannot provide
you with further information and assistance as your inquiry
lies beyond my jurisdiction of interest, mandate and expertise.

Thembi and other climate change activists are my icons,
She says: please tell them to desist from leasing our waters
to oil and gas multinationals, for we have had enough
of the perils associated with climate-shattering fossil fuels,
it’s time to transition to 100% clean energy to protect our planet.