“I would rather, by far,
Die on a mountainside,
Than in bed.”
Charles Lindbergh
I really wish that I could still climb up my favorite old Rocky Top
She was a ravishing old beauty, way back up in the rolling green hills
But a few years ago, our ‘sage leaders’ brought back mountaintop mining
Today, my favorite Rocky Top’s been gouged out, giving me a painful chill
Mountaintop mining had been banned for a quarter century
Since it pollutes our streams and rivers, and kills our wildlife
And I very fondly remember my now flat, good old Rocky Top
Where I spent many truly wondrous summer days with my wife
But most of our leaders today don’t give a damn about our environment
They’ve once again callously allowed mining companies to rape our land
I’m gettin all choked up right now, thinkin about my good old Rocky Top
The view from her wondrous mountaintop vista, was so marvelously grand
So Good-bye and Farewell, Forever,
To my favorite old Rocky Top, Good-bye;
Yesterday, as I peered at what was left of you,
Thick wet tears welled up in my saddened old eyes.
In mountaintop removal mining, which was very wisely banned in this country
For a quarter century, and very callously re-introduced by the Bush Administration,
A coal company literally blasts apart the tops of our mountains,
To enable them to reach thin seams of coal buried below.
And to minimize their massive waste disposal costs,
They are allowed to dump millions of tons of waste rock,
Directly down into the green, life-filled, god-given, valleys below,
Destroying wildlife habitat, burying fresh water streams,
And so very negligently polluting the very rivers,
That provide drinking water to millions of American citizens.
Proponents of this mountaintop mining in the Bush Administration,
Claim this method of coal extraction gives us ‘cheap access to fuel,’
And that it even provides our vast nation with much more flat land,
Which they say can be used for other modern day purposes.
So keep your own eyes peeled,
For a modern new ‘Flat Top Strip Mall,’
Or a new ‘Flat Top Junk Food Restaurant,’
In your own neck of the woods, very soon.
But if you’ve got a favorite, nostalgic, Rocky Top of your own,
You just might want to contact your Senators and Congressmen,
And start demanding they once again ban mountaintop mining,
Before all the Rocky Tops in our nation, meet their bloody end.
I Don’t Know About You,
But, Myself, I’d Much Rather Die,
Gazing Upon a Glorious Mountainside,
Than At Yet Another Damned, Artificial,
Flat Topped Piece of Destruction Before My Eyes.
©2008, Mr. Ed
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and still America sleeps. Had a democrat president done things covertly and lied about it "they" would scream
From, "can't take much more, michael"
Regis
the pale. it will take many decades to repair that which can be mended.
another penetrating write, ed. always take away so much with each of your offerings.
be well,
carolyn
Be always safe,
Karen
Love Tinka
dan
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Christine
HANG 'EM HIGH !!! TOM.
The pursue of the American dream doesn't necessary mean at all cost and over every's body.
Will let you your neighbor to come with a shovel and dig up your front lawn? Why Americans let a few greedy bastards (under the guise of working opportunity for everybody) to desecrate their land, to come with a shovel and dig up their front lawn?
Georg
Thanks for another "awakening" and objective poem, ED!
Blessing, Love and Appreciation - Micke
Newfie Hugs, Rose
Bless you my friend, for keeping those of us who care on our toes!
Jasmin Horst
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( >tears! <
God Bless,
Lew