A Poem About That One Time When We Almost Saved the Earth

By Taylor Lorek

A Poem About That One Time When We Almost Saved the Earth tells the story of early US climate change activism and political entanglements during the 1980s. It roughly follows the key players and events in science and politics and culminates in that one global summit in 1989 when world leaders almost signed a binding treaty to reduce CO2 emissions.

This 930-line narrative poem is a rhyming tribute to "Losing Earth", the groundbreaking New York Times Magazine article and subsequent bestselling book written by Nathaniel Rich.

Taylor Lorek turns this decade-spanning story into an entertaining poetry treat using accessible language and easy-to-read meter and rhyme schemes to help this ever-relevant topic find an even broader audience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Taylor Lorek
• Release date: Nov 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005917517

Taylor Lorek

Taylor is a multipotentialite with a barrel full of interests and a rather colorful resume to match. At the moment, her favorite pastime is creating rhyming poetry and eclectic illustrations, mostly with a ‘let’s save humanity’-attitude.She is currently working on a space-related football comic and your next favorite toilet read.You can find Taylor on Twitter and Instagram (@_tlorek_) or visit her website at www.tlorek.com.

Book preview

A Poem

About That One Time

When We Almost

Saved the Earth

by Taylor Lorek

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2021 Taylor Lorek

All rights reserved.

For Henri

INTRODUCTION

According to some guy named Nate

the 80s decided our fate.

We didn’t come through

to cut CO2,

and now it is all but too late.

He wrote a fine piece about those

who fought for our lives and came close

to keep this world cold;

his work is a bold

and true tale of heroes and foes.

To praise this phenomenal hit

I aim to poeticize it.

Perhaps using rhymes

will increase the times

it reaches the world a wee bit.

PROLOGUE

When thinking about how machines

can unravel life at the seams,

we credit AI,

and I can’t deny

I picture some cool Matrix scenes.

But we’ve got to turn to the page

that draws the industrial age.

‘Cause back in the past

the changes were vast

when engines and plants took the stage.

The rise of machines changed the rules

because for mechanical tools

you need lots of power

to gain watts per hour.

So we chose to burn fossil fuels.

The impact was soon quite severe:

Our acts caused a changed atmosphere.

The more