the rising tide
Buffalo Grove, IL
2024, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
patti wakes with the dawn
her prayers a whisper in Chennai’s air,
tea simmers, a warmth created
a chakra painted, welcoming all
but december came with a cyclone’s cry
Michaung’s tears soaking the streets,
first floor, an ocean of sorrow,
patti wading through the muddy grief.
once streets now transformed into rivers,
homes washed away in the tide,
millions of lives along a coastline,
faced climate’s fury, relentless and wide.
you think you’re safe until you’re not
because the truth is, her story whispers near
a cautionary saga, a warning for what is next
as billions brace for the storm’s call.
the least to blame, yet most they bear,
injustice heavy, hangs in the air,
patti’s tale, a plea, a cry,
for global unity, for progress to try.
disaster rages, chaos’ cruel grip
climate’s hand touches every lip,
yet in patti’s eyes, resilience gleams,
a future forged in hopeful dreams.
all alike, we must unite and ignite,
change our ways, embrace the fight,
for patti and everyone more,
resolution we must implore.
let this account guide our way,
stand with those the tides betray,
together, strong, we face the night,
for patti’s next dawn, a future bright.
Reflection
Reflection
My patti (grandma) follows a cherished routine every morning in Chennai. She wakes up, performs her morning prayers, cooks chai for the household, and paints a chakra outside the home, symbolizing a warm welcome to all. But December 4th, 2023, was different. Instead, patti woke up to find the first floor of her house submerged in ankle-deep water. As she waded through the muddy water to look outside, she was met with a devastating sight. The entire street was flooded, with her house suffering the brunt of it. Last winter, coastal cities like Chennai across Southern India were ravaged by Cyclone Michaung, which tore through the Bay of Bengal. While cyclones are common around that time of year in Southern India, the rapidly-increasing effects of climate change have only increased their frequency and intensity. When my mom brought patti back to our home in Chicago—a city that has never and probably will never experience the dramatizing effects of cyclones—and told me her story, I was deeply shaken. While we enjoy the security of high-rises, suburban homes, and luxurious condos, billions worldwide do not. Those who contribute the least to climate change seem to suffer the most from its impacts. Through sharing stories like patti’s, I hope to highlight the forgotten and overlooked narratives of the climate crisis. Oftentimes, when we think of climate change, we often focus on issues close to home—wildfires on the West Coast, failing agriculture in the Midwest, and harsh winters in the East. But it's crucial to recognize that climate change affects everyone indiscriminately. We are all at risk. I hope my work encourages others to rethink the climate crisis and consider its global impact. It's not just about us; it's about all the people worldwide who have and will continue to, face the consequences of our inaction until we make a change.