'Worry is ... '

‘Worry is a useless emotion,’

I’ve often told my students. 

So is despair, which is where 

I end up when I contemplate

the stupid, greedy world’s 

inaction on climate change.

I’ve done my share of screaming

into deaf ears for decades,

brought up on Rachel Carson 

and Grey Wolf. What’s left

to do now? Enjoy the world! 

While it lasts, and while I last.

And keep on doing all the things,

all the small things, which might work –

just because, just in case, and why not?

Even a dying planet deserves 

to be loved and cared for, as much 

and as long as I can … as we can.