The Throne of Blue Flame


Who’s afraid of the big black wolf?
Big Oil hides behind Red Riding Hood’s cloak
to disguise its threat in a dance of misconceptions.

It floods our digital world
with pretty commercials selling safe
while it mixes hazardous chemicals
with our drinking water to pour
down shafted earth throats
to regurgitate profit.


Fracking with our eco system
puts all forms of life at risk,
but petroleum spin plugs our ears with lies
to worship at the throne of blue flame.


People rise up and use your voices,
be louder than the noise bleeding your security.
Oil barons with corporate names
don’t care about environmental issues
unless tragedy implodes their bottom line.


©Susie Clevenger 2013

Since June is  the month of Allen Ginsberg's birthday Kerry at Real Toads encouraged us to howl or rant about something we feel we needed to let off some steam about. I have several rants, but I chose fracking as the theme for this one. It doesn't matter to me how they sell or spin the safety of fracking there are so many things that can and do go wrong. Here are some links if you would like to do a little more reading on the process. I have even included the one where big oil sells its safety in an attempt to be balanced in my information. 

Comments

Fireblossom said…
I have heard of fracking, and knew it was controversial, but I didn't really know what it was, so thanks for the education. Big money cares nothing for the earth, and it breaks my heart.
Maggie Grace said…
Great job! Same topic of rant but yours is so much more powerful. Fracking good!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Fireblossom, you are welcome. I live in Houston so we live and breathe big oil down here.

@Maggie Grace, thank you so much!
Margaret said…
I know very little about fracking - heard one news source describe how dangerous it is... and then I listened to John Stossel (whom I reallly like) speak on it and found an article he wrote. I'm kind of on the fence and don't know what to think...

http://reason.com/archives/2013/03/13/frack-to-the-future

Either way, your rant is passionate!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Margaret, my husband has been in the oil business for over 30 years so I have been exposed to the good, the bad and the ugly of what goes on. Off shore drilling was thought to be relatively safe until the Deepwater Horizon accident.
Margaret said…
LIke I said... I know nothing about this. Just listen to both sides and get more confused. Either way, money usually wins out and that does not leave me feeling reassured....
Kerry O'Connor said…
Fracking is a very pertinent issue, even in South Africa, where mining companies are lobbying for the go-ahead and all our government cares about is kick-backs.
Marian said…
"selling safe" is a great phrase, Susie. fracking is a huge thing in western PA, where i grew up. huge, bad. thanks for this rant.
Susie Clevenger said…
@Kerry, I know. It is sad.
Susie Clevenger said…
@Marian, thanks. It certainly is a topic for conversation.
De Jackson said…
An important issue, indeed. Well done.
Helen said…
If there is even the remote possibility of carcinogens being injected into the earth ... spewing out during the fracking process .. I am terrified.
LLM Calling said…
Let's rise up in a way that an oil pipe would envy
Susie, BRILL. Fracking is evil. They are about to start same under my home town... a Vietnam Vet who saved his whole life to buy a little house in nearby Candor, NY, can literally light his tap water on fire with a lighter. Check YouTube and search "Vet Lights Tap" and you will be horrified.

Very important issue. Glad you took up focus on one thing... I was all over the place!! Amy
Susie Clevenger said…
@De, thank you. I feel the urgency to share my concerns about it.

@Helen, it is a scary possibility

@Emma,I hope so.

@Sharp Little Pencil, Thank you. I will check it out!
Kay L. Davies said…
Know something, Susie? It's horrible, it's awful, it's deadly, and they're going to get away with it because they have more money than we have. More money.
And there's nothing we can do unless we seriously rise up and shout, not on our blogs, because we're just Women With Blogs, but out on the streets, every day, in every weather, by the hundreds and by the thousands, until someone realizes we're the victims in a very, very bad war.
K
Hannah said…
So scary what's going on. Thank you for your voice on this, Susie...well done!!
Sherry Blue Sky said…
You nailed it, Suzy. Thanks for addressing this topic. I've been babysitting for three days, no time to write, but am sure I can scare up a rant or two soon.
Susie Clevenger said…
@Kay, I know what you mean. There comes a time when we must put feet to our beliefs and carry our voice to the streets.
@Sherry, thank you.
Susan said…
OwWoooooooo! Say it!