our children are growing up
under a different sun
angry burnt-orange pink
instead of lemon yellow
they’re growing up with the scratch of smoke
at the back of their throats
with the listlessness of too-hot days
locked inside the air-con
with weather we never had a name for –
derecho
boom cyclone
seiche
they’re growing up
with less hope than we had
—
Erin Robertson teaches outdoor nature writing classes and is Writer in Residence for Friends of Coal Creek. Her poetry has been published in journals and recorded by The Crossing. Past honors include being a guest artist hosted by the U.S. Consulate in Kazakhstan, Voices of the Wilderness Artist in Residence in Alaska, and Boulder County Artist in Residence. She lives in Louisville, Colorado with her remarkable husband, two sons, parakeet, and pup. www.erinrobertson.org
