World on Fire

By Cliff Lake

World on Fire

 

From the very first intended campfire,

To the every funerary pyre.

None ever thought to inquire:

But what if we set the world on fire?

 

In our haste, we have set flame to bush and briar,

Watching, we let the conflagrations grow higher.

And our accomplishments we admire

But haven’t we set the world on fire?

 

How do we get the temperature down?

How much longer do we just fool around?

Don’t you know,

If we aren’t careful,

We will burn it all to the ground.

 

Too late now, the deserts grow ever drier

And the forests may be set to expire,

Still, we strive for all we desire,

But why did we set the world on fire?

 

How do we get the temperature down?

How much longer do we just fool around?

Don’t you know,

If we aren’t careful,

We will burn it all to the ground.

 

This earth was given to our trust.

We must not leave it as some blackened crust.

This earth does not belong just to us:

We must not turn it all to dust.

 

We need not oblige the longing to acquire,

There is higher deed to which we may aspire,

We need not always plunge headlong and haywire,

We need not continue to service the fire.

 

How do we get the temperature down?

How much longer do we just fool around?

Don’t you know,

If we aren’t careful,

We will burn it all to the ground.

 

Cliff Lake 6/28/2024

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024


Location: Wichita, KS, USA

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