Yesterday, taking the lead in a new Real Toads series on favourite poems, Kerry chose Preludes by T.S. Eliot, one of the English-speaking world's greatest poets. He wrote his Preludes as "a series of introductory poems for a longer piece that does not exist," said Kerry, but she loves them just as they are.
Therefore, as today's challenge at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, she has asked us to write a prelude to a longer piece that doesn't exist.
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| From Wikipedia |
My prelude is a conversation between the president and vice-president of an imaginary American oil company considering the highly controversial process dubbed "fracking" (also referred to as hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracking) in the oil-producing industry.
In my imaginary conversation, the president is beginning to get cold feet. However, his "vice" hastens to assure him that no problem really exists, that it is all in the minds of the complainants.
While the following conversation is in the imagination of this poet, many reports have described the dangers of this method of fueling the engines of the future, while others say it is perfectly safe.
Executive
Conversation
Prior to
Producing
a Report
the oil company president said to his vice-
"I’ve heard this fracking gig’s not very nice."
replied his viceness while just oozing niceness:
"that’s 'fracking rig' sir and I’m glad to report
we’re making, er, writing up lists for the board.
thus far, the dangers don’t outweigh the profits,
very few states complain: one is New York
where they're so nervous, they’d squawk about pork
and sure, there’s complaints about air pollution!
bad smells in Colorado, it’s no wonder there:
all those dead cattle would smell anywhere,
with salts, acids, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene,
radioactive materials, chemicals in Pennsylvania—
complaints about us are a sure sign of mania,
and they say 'heavy metals', but all metal’s heavy!
brain tumor removal of course causes pain
but that doesn’t mean that fracking’s to blame
for discolored water that’s starting to bubble,
they’ll say anything to get us in trouble!
counting Wyoming, Texas, Louisiana—
not too many states when you know we have fifty,
and some Texans think if it makes 'em rich, nifty."
By Kay L. Davies, May 8, 2013
13 comments:
wow, wow! this is an impressive tome, Kay. right on point. i'm particularly fond of rhyming "Pennsylvania" with "mania" (as that is from whence i come). yay!
Truly a lady with a wicked sense of humour and the power to lighten a frightening subject.
People can come up with the most excuses to bend the truth, if they want to ~
Excellent capture of this conversation which though fictional is probably all too real. Good job.
I watched a documentary on fracking the other day and it is horrifying. But corporations have no soul, only Bottom Lines. This is very clever, Kay, so well done.
You have taken on a hot topic with humor. Sometimes that is the only way anyone will listen...Political spin, it is a game where no one wins.
You are so clever! Wow...Bravo on your efforts!
I now want to try again...
:D
I would giggle at your cleverness if not for the crying. My home state is New York, and my home town rests on the northern end of PA's Marcellus Shale site. Even now, a Vietnam vet from Candor, NY (20 miles from my old house) can light his tap water on fire.
THANK YOU for showing your political side on this one. The sad part is, this is probably rather accurate, seeing as the CEOs of these corporations are irresponsible... well, I won't say it here! OK, how about bozos?
You got me going with this! Activist Amy
@ Amy — another new poem:
Activist Amy and Activist Kay
went for a walk in the country one day
and sat beside a little pool
in which their feet they though to cool
then when the pool leapt into flame
Amy escaped, but Kay's a fiery old dame.
K
Clever:-)
It's strictly a matter of profits outweighing costs of lawsuit payouts. Scary to hear it stated humorously (although well stated).
They are trying to pass a bill which will allow fracking in South Africa. I shudder to think of the long-term damage that such short-term solutions offer.
Hari Om
WOW. That's a kicker, Kay. As others have pointed out, anyone in the industry will be saying too close for comfort! Well said, my friend!! YAM xx
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