A Not-So-Allegorical Allegory of the Anthropocene

Yesterday, under a blood-red sun, fueled by out-of-control wildfires, fueled by acres and acres of dead trees killed by invasive beetles, and in the sweltering heat, I harvested these wild grapes. I’ve been watching this stand grow all season and had no intention of harvesting them because it’s been so dry this summer. I intended to leave them for the critters who will need the moisture and nourishment in weeks to come. But with the threat of freezing temperatures and snow on the way, I decided to harvest anyway and attempt to save some of the fruit from being destroyed.

Today and tomorrow, I’ll take some offerings to the land and creatures who allowed me these beautiful fruits in exchange for this gift and I’ll grieve.

This is the climate crisis.

All of these extreme factors (drought, fires, invasive species exacerbated by lack of freezing temps, dramatic weather shifts) aren’t surprising if you have been reading the science.

None of it is unusual if you are a climate scientist.

It is as predicted.

This time of The Great Pause showed us what was possible. Now we are being shown what the future holds if we don’t act. Are you listening?

***Written September 7th, 2020 in Boulder, CO***