I journeyed to the Arctic on a clear, idyllic day;
My cruise ship scraping along the coast of Canada and away
Into the vastness, orb of blue, where sky and ocean danced
With the shadows of Amundsen and Peary, explorers of the past.

Wandering the whitewashed decks, my eyes moved to and fro
Across the landscape, ever barren, brushed by the snow-
Starboard side! …Could it be so? Something sat out there
Nestled in the blue and white; there lay a polar bear.

With sunken eyes, he raised his head, examining the ship-
The portly tourists, guide books, meals laced with potato chips.
His gaze sought mine- a sorrow glow- a desperate apparition;
He beckoned me to listen and roared out an admonition:

“I’ve seen your kind before. I urge you, listen to my call…
Life will soon change for you and I; I have heard it all.
Get ready for the danger, human, because it’s just begun…
Global Warming’s real, and, well, it’s anything but fun.

If it’s that consoling to you, make fun of it if you really must,
Refer to it as ‘that thing some smart aleck ‘scientists’ dreamed up’,
When it comes to climate change, you say, ‘What is there to explain?’
But actually, this phenomenon can bring about unbearable pain.

See, in reality global warming is a scientifically-proven fact,
Take the polar ice caps, for instance; year by year they continue to retract.
I used to hunt for seals and such upon the now diminishing floes-
Recently my family’s been drowning, and I henceforth dare not go.

Your shall find, dear human, that it’s not just occurring here,
The temperature is rising globally and inducing a great deal of fear.
Salmon swim frantically towards the river that marks the spot of their birth,
Due to the heat, they can’t find the location, pleading, ‘Where on Earth?!’

Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes all trail after their vicious master,
Its name is Global Warming, a paragon of disaster.
Personally, I can’t comprehend why people just don’t care.
After all, your kind once pitched in to replete the ozone layer.

Human, I know for a fact your species is intelligent and clever,
But ask them to seek alternative fuels, they frown and retort, ‘Never!’
Global warming is a part of nature’s never-ending cycle,
But why should you have to speed it up? Better reduce, reuse and recycle.

The politicians constantly remind you that climate change isn’t funny,
Because preventing it will cost the nation all its reserves of money.
Before joining Greenpeace or the World Wildlife Fund, they say, ‘think about our nation!
It’s good to help Mother Earth, of course- but what about inflation?’

Human, pass this Global Warning on to all of the people you know.
If you don’t take action soon, you will be overwhelmed by shock and sorrow!
Don’t worry if your statement will seem to terrorize the masses,
Just smile and reply that a good sporting fight can eradicate greenhouse gases.”

The ship floated on; the bear stood still and saw me on my way,
His silhouette a sharp white truth that cut the peaceful day.
Warming goes on, trouble is shared, and action swiftly flows-
I returned home to share his words with the world that needed to know.