Ice in the Arctic and Antarctic circles is currently melting at a terrifying rate. The ocean level is rising, engulfing islands, and stray pieces of ice caps often trap young sea animals. Animals like seals, whales, and polar bears are all deeply affected by the absence of land and the warming of the ocean. These short poems are to express the grief and fear these animals would feel because of their home being taken away. 

My childhood felt free

Now I struggle to swim, breathe

A lone seal, dying

I feel sickly warmth

Engulfing me, starving me

Where did my pod go?

There’s no space to prowl

On the icy land I walked

Gone into the sea

Animals that depend on land to help them escape from predators are dying, starving the predators and killing them as well. Warmer oceans mean less plankton and fish. Young animals sometimes get left behind when their elders leave for better places. These poems were intended to put the reader in the places of these animals in an attempt to inspire change, so here are some things you can do to stop the ice caps from melting!

• Use less fossil fuels

• Drilling fossil fuels out of the ground takes a lot of energy and releases chemicals into the air. These chemicals contribute to climate change. The less fossil fuels we use, the less we need to drill.

• Consider using solar panels in your home!

• Use battery-powered cars!

• Don’t unnecessarily drive places!

• Eat less beef: Cows release a lot of methane, which contributes to the warming.

Overall, all aspects of global warming are connected. Raising awareness is one of the best ways to help stop ice caps from melting! The animals will thank you.