The Heights of Pride
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2024, Junior, Poetry & Spoken Word
In towering height, the Burj Khalifa stands,
Proud sentinel of vast and distant sands.
The level seas, once near, each year retreat,
As water dissipates, the shores recede.
But darkly, crude flows deep within the earth–
This liquid saturates the parched desert–
And built the tallest building in the world.
Its spires rise, a testament to man,
To his untiring mind, since time began,
A mental fire that burns to light our doom,
To scorch our world, consumed by diesel fumes.
With every drop of oil that we exhume,
This greedy folly fails our true wisdom,
For power rests not in fantastic feats,
But allowing Mother Earth to thrive in peace.
Reflection
I decided to write this piece on oil and the Burj Khalifa because Climate Change has caused the temperature in Dubai where I live to rise more than four degrees over the past century. Dubai is already an incredibly hot and humid country, so any increase in temperature is a burden on the people, the wildlife, and the stability of the local ecosystem in general. I thought the Burj Khalifa would work well as a symbol of Climate Change, because all too often we get caught up on our pride in technological progress. But this progress often carries real costs to the environment that we often overlook. In writing this piece I hope to raise awareness about the environmental challenges we face and inspire individuals to take action. By shedding light on the negative impacts of human activities–especially the indiscriminate burning of fossil fuels–I aim to encourage readers to make conscious choices that minimize their ecological footprint. Whether it’s adopting eco-friendly habits, supporting renewable energy sources, or advocating for environmental policies, every small step counts in making a difference.