Nemesis

The poem today looks at disasters through the prism of the Greek gods and Greek mythology, but not to consider the natural disasters as the actions of the gods, but to see reflected in the actions of the gods, how they dealt with hubris, an arrogance that sees the progress of mankind as ever onwards and upwards, and a neglect of the natural world, pillaging it for minerals, polluting it, and acting as the catalyst for climate change, while often in denial.

Nemesis

Earthquakes: the planet groans in pain

Houses fall, people scream in fear

Mankind humbled, not to be so vain

Poseidon reaching out so near

Wildfires: the planet burns in rage

Buildings burn, people flee the flame

Mankind humbled, not so wise and sage

Hephaestus hammer strikes its aim

Drought: the planet bare of rain

Crops fail, people struggle to survive

Mankind humbled: not so great a reign

Demeter’s sorrows come alive

Those who despise the gods, tempt fate

Nemesis is coming, and the hour is late