In honor of Earth Day on Friday, the Washington Examiner thought it would be appropriate to unearth Al Gore’s poem about global warming. Gore recited the poem for CBS’ Harry Smith on “The Early Show” in 2009.
Gore wrote the poem for his 2009 book Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. While saying he doesn’t claim to be a poet, the former vice president explained that his “brushstrokes” depict the impacts of global warming.
Here is the poem in full:
One thin September soon
A floating continent disappears
In midnight sun
Vapors rise as
Fever settles on an acid sea
Neptune’s bones dissolve
Snow glides from the mountain
Ice fathers floods for a season
A hard rain comes quickly
Then dirt is parched
Kindling is placed in the forest
For the lightning’s celebration
Unknown creatures
Take their leave, unmourned
Horsemen ready their stirrups
Passion seeks heroes and friends
The bell of the city
On the hill is rung
The shepherd cries
The hour of choosing has arrived
Here are your tools
