World Turning: a poem for our times

Back in December, the Change the Word Sheffield Poetry Collective wrote a poem together. A poem about our world, how it is changing, how we can keep hope alive within it.

We recently read it back in The Words We Carry poetry anthology, and we were struck by how very apt it feels for these new times. The uncertainty and the pain, but also the resilience, the determination, the need for connection with ourselves, with each other, with our world.

This Earth Day, we’re sharing it with you. We hope you enjoy it, and find connection with the words of these brilliant poets from around the globe.

WORLD TURNING

The world is on fire.
A wave of unknown
moving through the planet.

Faces blended together.
Curried earth, hot, dry.

I came from swimming back naked.
I came from hidden shadows of myself.

Wandering through rust
I reach somewhere with walls and doors,
shade and trees. I am safe.

How I love to walk on the warm sand
with arms around my loved one.
In this place I can see
my mother, a bright sunbeam.

I come from light.
When it is bright you have a vision.
You see far. The world is big.

I cannot go back to the spot where I slid down in joy.

But my poem melts and slithers down the throat.
My poem is like being hugged, held close. Loved.
I see innocence with a sweet smell.

The taste is sweet, the outside sharp like a needle.
My poem is fresh heavenly herbs, like home,
my mom’s presence. Sound of the fields of my land.

I am made of the fabric of my ancestors.
I breathe the strength of a nation.

I come from earth, roots, leaves and sky.
I have a frosty hope to recover.

Having crispy memories needs safe thoughts.
But in the moment of dark time of death
and life, check, border check,
check, border check, you have been beside me.

Hope is looking to heights
like the peak of a mountain.
Don’t look me down.

The world on fire.
A wave of unknown,
complete and turn bright.

The next morning it is shining.

By Andrew, Awad, Cerowyn, Diyo, Donald, Huzaifah, Jasem, Javid, Kiriakoulla, Lem Lem, Maddox, Masoumeh, Mazin, Michael, Nazia, Nev, Nighat, Qais, Raqia, Sabira, Sarah, Tom and Yordanos