Hello, I’m doing more weather reports for Currently’s Washington, DC newsletter from my poetic climate lense. This week, you get the latest as a collective hero’s journey climate change fairytale. Here’s more about Currently:
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Once upon a week in August…
Monday, August 23rd, 2021
Once upon a Monday in Washington, DC
We’ll come upon our day: hot and partly cloudy
With slim afternoon shower chances to clear away
Knowing what’s coming, we’ll slay our Monday
Against little breeze and all the humidity we’ll face
High 90° / low 72° - have water outside and pace
A hot and steamy local/global tale we’ll weather
Not on one hero’s journey but all together
Braving each corner of the climate crisis that needs addressing
Against every fossil-fueled foe that needs cleansing
Facing a dragon the color of a code red for humanity
Decarbonizing in shining armor of solidarity
Tuesday, August 24th, 2021
Once upon a Tuesday in Washington, DC
It’ll be hot, mostly clear, and sunny
Through an afternoon and evening low of 80°
Sun grinning “What’s hot?” with little irony
With temperatures this week set to soar over 90°
This hot and sunny Summer Tuesday has me
Counting every Very Hot Day, but instead of despair
I try do something to renew, restore, repair,
And drink plenty of water, which should remind us
Our homes— like our bodies— need every nurturing kindness
Now, every clean kilowatt, every nth of a degree matters
Everything for every decarbonized day ever after
Wednesday, August 25th, 2021
Once upon a Wednesday in Washington, DC
We’ll get sunnier, hotter, and steamy
Swampland sweating, low 75° / high of 95°
In high humidity– it’s important to fortify
In this hot heat wield your shield (find shade)
As well your sword (drink water) will aide
Take breaks inside or out in the Enchanted Forest (Rock Creek Park)
Even into the mostly clear 80s evening cover-of-dark
Where our heat index curse is still creeping
With that calamitous climate crisis feeling
So pace yourself, take care of each other, and apply sunscreen
Journeying through your Wednesday in the Anthropocene
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
Once upon a Thursday in Washington, DC
One mid-90s, with scattered evening storms, and muggy
On a scale from One to Will-My-Shirt-Stick-To-Me?
Expect a dragonsfire-hot humidity
Possibly helped by south winds zephyring
With a 75° low / 95° high, stay treasuring
Take care of yourself and each other
Pace. Breathe. Take breaks. Drink water.
Like an epic fairytale we all get to tell
Thursday is ours to make what we will
So let’s go birth a better climate future from our wellspring
“We were born at exactly the right time to change everything”
Friday, August 27th, 2021
Once upon a Friday in Washington, DC
Hot with PM showers and storms, and sun early
With the glory of the weekend upon us near
Go ahead and raise your goblet in cheer
To errant District days, another 75° low / 95° high
Another Summer Very Hot Day above 90° to tally
Above our annual average, and expecting more
But there’s a more heroic future we can work towards
With climate-resilient communities for all, flourishing in Equity
On a grander adventure together for tomorrow, currently
Because Happy Endings don’t end Happily for anyone
Ever After– if not Happily for everyone.