Teeter Totter - Unfccc Cop15

[Written in December 2009 while at the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen] The plank is of a long, strong wood With edges round for measures good Small steady steps the toddler walks While politicians stall the talks Three fifty steps the child takes He still is safe despite mistakes But stands around the tipping point The world is lacking efforts joint Teeter toddler on a see-saw Looks around his world with awe He won’t see the world we know His children won’t make balls of snow Nor will they shriek with sounds of glee At the base of a mature sequoia tree The child takes a few more steps Three eighty now the child preps He braces now the plank just tips Foot raised mid-air he nearly trips He’s left his parent’s binding arms His siblings now cry in alarm Loud voices raised the leaders hear The messages we chant are clear Still balancing one foot in the air Do leaders have the will to care? And then to act in united haste I fear our votes have been misplaced Footing down, he sheds his tears He’s heading down towards his fears Urgent action is his need He wishes leaders would succeed In finding words that all endorsed With rules and visions well enforced His parent’s arms bind him once more And guide him to his place before Before he made those last few choices Now that he’s safe his world rejoices So that is all we really need Decisions made in spite of greed Where different voices will unite Survival after all’s a right Society is young and yet It’s frailty we can’t forget For we’re not all that we affect And if we stall, we’ll all regret Now is the time for us to act We need a more effective pact So let’s unite the world again And ‘seal the deal’ in 2010.