

This is me in the Mojave Desert, California, in 2009
Climate change is not new
Ever since there have been climates on earth there has been climate change. Today we know that large areas of the earth are threatened by rising sea levels and other areas are threatened by droughts. Such problems have been common throughout human history. Mankind has always been at the mercy of forces beyond his control, and sometimes forces that he could and should control.
I, for one, feel powerless to do anything about the current climate crises. At the same time, in spite of everything, I think that mankind will survive and enjoy the benefits of modern science.
I wasn’t thinking of the climate issue when I wrote the following poem which my notes tell me I wrote over several years, returning to it from time to time when I happened to come across it in a folder, but I think the poem may be relevant.
Poem – What little I know?
What does anyone know?
What do I know?
The origin
of the universe
its scale
its destiny
are beyond my understanding.
This earth
so rich
so poor
so vulnerable
so uncontrollable
is all we have.
I accept
that I am less than a speck
in the sandstorm
of stars.
I only know
I am a citizen of earth
and this,
my brief home.
David Roberts
2000, 2015, 2020