Wyoming Coal

So passer-by come sit by me and hear my tale

don't heed the screech of that mocking jay

in the pay of those that put Wyoming up for sale

mining coals to send to China to speed dismay 

coming our way when high rains

pour on parchéd dirt

worn out by grazing and ceaseless drought 

flash floods mudslides and fire, 

when high tides erode our beaches 

wash away our waterfronts.

Tell me stranger what more can we do

to hasten our demise?

Shall we send more trains?  Please explain 

our assisted suicide, 

interstate commerce as far as it goes

then over to Canada to repose

in a carrier bound for China all 

Wyoming's best coal at a premium price

a profitable deal and Wyoming

is far now from the coast.

Those more pious living in the East

believing water springs for their own good

demanding from us who live out West

some sober sacrifice be made like youth…

that we should sacrifice children to their god

to profit warren buffet routing coal trains past

our borders of commonsense   oil trains too

that sometimes explode traveling too fast…

A mile of best coal from Wyoming stripped

on its way to China for our climate suicide…

we sold our coal for a song and a dance

at the stock exchange bell at risk of a knell…

technology that could save us we hesitate to give

afraid their AI will toll our own bell

we'll let our AI advance with a watermark strip

showing its status acclaimed world's best liar.

Or walk on then don't sit awhile but hear my song...

we should spend more to make more

creating a world that’s peaceful and secure

not routing coal trains for evermore.

               Dick Russell, Richard M Russell

                      copyright © 2024

                      Richard M Russell