an oily gold rush ~
flows out from the frack-raped earth ~
Mother’s black-inked tears
~
boys rush the Bakken ~
covet all precious treasure ~
shatter the girls’ gems
~
when Females are raped ~
shouldn’t all be shocked and wonder ~
what through pipeline flows?
~
#noDAPL
(Rape and sexual assault against women and girls have skyrocketed in the communities surrounding the Bakken Oil Fields since fracking began, increasing by some estimates more than 160%. These crimes have disproportionately impacted Indigenous females who live on the area’s reservation.)
Words and Photography ©2017 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me
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Thanks for bringing light to an another side of the issue. Sometimes I can’t believe it’s 2017 and this is still happening.
Thanks, Lacey! The Bakken Oil Fields are a repeat of a history that has played itself out too many times. If you listen to the stories of some of these girls, it is heartbreaking. The last one I heard was a four year old girl…
Someone will be burning in hell. God bless that baby girl and the rest of the victims.
Making people aware of what is going on is a first step. We need to take better care of our earth and our humans.
Wow! Very, very poignant and revealing… Exceptionally superb!
Thank you, Jonathan! That means a lot to me. This is straight from my heart. The stories I have heard from around the Bakken are horrible. Breaks my heart.
Indeed! The information you’ve shared is shocking and deeply saddening … but it needs to be known, so thank you for putting it out there! All the best to you w/peace and blessings!
Best to you also, Jonathan, my friend. Have a wonderful day!
I love how cleverly is dealt with in the poem.
Thank you! I love the haiku for pieces like this. It forces tight writing and thinking. It’s a topic I care deeply about.
A very noble one I applaud you.
Thank you, again!
It’s a peasure
Tanya, this is an extremely clever metaphor to define what trashing our environment means, but especially geared toward fracking.
The author ( aWSJ reporter) of the book called “The Frackers” which looks more favorably at the leaders behind the fracking industry made the following conclusion a few years ago. Fracking is not as bad as environmentalists say, but is less safer than what the frackers say. He said history well tell us which end of the spectrum is more correct. Note, history is already showing fracking is on less safer side plus, it is taking a lot of water to do.
Yet, in this same book, George Mitchell, the father of modern day fracking said fracking is only as safe as your worst operator. He was being kind, becaause even the bigger companies find it difficult. It is telling, before he died, Mitchell had become an advocate for renewable energy.
Keith
Thank you, Keith! Great comment. You know I am a huge proponent of renewable energy, as I know you are. It is hard to continue to watch the damage that gets done in the name of “progress” that isn’t. Real progress is being made in renewable energy, especially in solar storage. We need to keep educating and pushing.
Tanya, I am with you. Do you follow Gronda’s blog? She wrote a nice piece the other day on the increase in solar jobs relative to fossil fuel industry. Here is a link.
https://grondamorin.com/2017/02/08/breaking-news-president-can-create-more-jobs-via-solar-power/
Let’s keep pushing. Keith
I do, but I missed that post. Thanks for sharing. I’ll visit and read…and keep pushing!
Not only is this a well written haiku, it expresses a true emotional concern about a very sensitive issue. Many tears will be shed as your words touch people’s hearts. *applauding*
Thank you very much, Jonathan. It is a difficult topic but one that touches my heart deeply. I really appreciate the feedback!
Good grief talented girl this is an incredibly clever, revealing and well written poem! I love how you bring up such an important subject also using the technique of haiku AND it’s beautiful to boot! How you manage all three is beyond me, I’m more than impressed by this, it’s exquisitely written xo
Thank you so very much! I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I e-mailed you this morning. The softcover book is up in Amazon, and I debuted at #1 in Asian poetry! It is such a great cause. I’m giddy. ❤
I saw the note about debuting at number one in Asian poetry you are SO DESERVING and I’m so proud of you my friend! I shall for sure be reviewing this for South Florida Magazine it will be my honor. You deserve this and so much more, and you are an inspiration to me my friend, for being so giving to others. Thank you so much for being the light for so many of us, and well done, I hope you treat yourself to something good it is important to congratulate yourself and be proud of yourself – though we all are for you too! HUGS I will check emails when I get home xo
Thank you again! I so appreciate all the encouragement. You are an inspiration to me.❤
You’re on fire, Tanya. Congratulations! Go for it!
Thank you for your friendship and encouragement! It means everything to me.
Again…good luck with your Amazon project…it’s such a worthy cause!
Steve 🙂
Thank you, Steve! The reviews coming in have been great so far. I’m hoping for a lot of $ raised!😊
I’m glad for you and the children, Tanya. This is a precious cause…I can really get behind it!
Enjoy your day…
Thank you again, Steve! The encouragement is much appreciated! Have a wonderful weekend.😊
You do the same, Tanya. TTYL…
🙂
I will do, Steve. Thanks!
Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
Stupid pipeline. People don’t realize what goes on up at the Bakken Oil Fields..Thanks for sharing!
I liked how you spelled this out. I keep signing petitions but it doesn’t seem to be helping. I’m so sad what is being done to those women. It hurts so much to think these things still go on.
Thank you so much! It hurts to hear their stories. This country needs to wake up…You keep signing those petitions and speaking up! 😊
Wow…powerful! Hit ’em with Haiku!
What an awesome comment! Thank you!