earth note 191

fracking rigs that have turned
western north dakota
into an industrial wasteland
must somehow
some     way
be reversed & restored
never forgotten

every last politician
with filthy hands
needs to be run out of office
exposed as the executioners
that they are
defiling what used to be
sacred grasslands

how the landscape has changed
with the blessings of
the fracking president

but this is no time
for despair
there are rugged mountains
     humans & other forms
in montana
that refuse the devil's fire
     reject suicide & a fools' gold rush

with the ferocity
and grace
of the rivers
two medicine    cut bank    rose    avalanche
let the apostles go forth
shaking every plain and valley
turning a betrayed people toward the light

--- e b bortz

(published in opednews.com, June 29, 2012)