I am not one of those yahoos
who shouts down science on Fox News.
No, not at all.

I accept the scientific consensus
that the Earth is starting to simmer
like the potato, leek and kale soup
on my stove, just more slowly.

What bothers me
is that these sideshows have paralyzed discourse,
particularly the customary assignments of blame.
Why aren’t we looking at who stands
to gain from global warning?

To me, it is clear.
They are lurking just off our shores.

You must know who I mean.

Dolphins.

Think of them as our replacements.
Their brains are larger than ours,
and you just know that they are out there,
frolicking in ways we can only dream of,
cackling sociopathically
about how they understand our language,
but we can’t grasp the basics of theirs.

Apparently, they have a poem on the subject
that mocks our lack of vocabulary
for vital features of fish.

It is not difficult at all to believe
that their plans are already set:
races in the shallows that were Central Park,
urination on the TRUMP TOWER

signage,
searches for cash within the flooded basements
of Wall Street.

Dolphins, the only creatures feared by sharks.

Shouldn’t we be somewhat terrified?