SustyVibes

Climate Pains

A poem by Maria Mark Mshelia


Felt this lump in my throat

Lump of pain and anger

A pool of tears almost pouring 

I feel like screaming

I feel helpless and powerless

I feel like I am the superhero the world needs

Yet, powerless

Bottled up in one corner

What good then is being a super hero?

Like Jesus standing in the clouds and everyone from every corner of the world can hear him

I would want to stand and shout so everyone can hear me

So I can relieve my pains

Pains you say? What pains?

Pains about Climate Change

Pains about the floods and how it is our fault

Pains about heat-waves and how it is our fault

Pains about Cyclones and Typhoons

About landslides

About Famine and drought

About burning of fossils

About pollution

About blocking our drains

About throwing trash out of moving cars

About improper disposal of our trash

I want to scream to those in charge of us

About how they hold the power 

To make policies that could change all these

How they could ban plastic bags, bottles and the rest

How they could set up recycling factories

But, they lay low

Majority of them without the knowledge of Climate Change

How they’ll help, I wonder

My head hurts, my heart bleeds

I weep for my unborn children

If climate change will take a worse turn in the next few years

If we don’t act up

Then, why should I bring my kids to this condemned world?

For them to suffer?

Die in cyclones?

Die in Floods?

Die in famine and drought?

No, no, no!

I refuse to let them drown

It’s unfair

Hold me down lest I crash from pains

My soul, my heart, my head, my body

This girl is on fire

There would be nowhere to run

Go abroad?

You are not safe

The typhoon, the cyclones and floods will not leave you in peace

These Cyclones I tell you are creeping in

We heard of them only from afar

On TVs and Radios

Now, they are upon us

Without mercy or fear

All our fault

All our fault

We can not only pray

We have the power in our hands

To change things around

Wake up, children of the earth

Save thy mother from dying

Save her from yourselves

Don’t be bad children

Repay your mother with goodness


About the Author

Maria Mark Mshelia is a SustyViber. She is a travel agent based in Abuja. A member of the YALI Network, Deputy Coordinator of Face to Face Bauchi and RLC Alumni, online cohort 2. She is a graduate of Leisure and Tourism Management from the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi. She Leads the “Follow the Money” team in Bauchi State. A volunteer with ONE Campaign and Amnesty International. She is also an entrepreneur focusing on Fashion Design, especially Ankara accessories and wall art.