REGULA RUSSELLE

A Simple History of the Atmosphere:
A Book of Numbers

 

creatures and plants living in a sea of air
delicately balanced  : 

        nitrogen, oxygen, water,
       carbon dioxide
10 million years of equilibrium
lifetimes of a billion breaths

200 years of tipping scales
( fossil fuels
burnt and spent )

 

the answer is

not to be laid back
not to be frightened
not to be cynical
not to be hesitant
not to be uninformed
not to be isolated

 

tend to the invisible

 

I gratefully acknowledge my partner in life, Michael, who helped me with the scientific content and numbers of my book, and to Edward Sanders. Words from his song — Refuse to be Burnt Out — appear in italics.

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