by Geoffrey Philp
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| “This is absolutely scary!” declared Mary Jones when she beheld thousands of dead fish lining the Harbour Head shoreline in Harbour View, St Andrew, yesterday morning. She was among several persons who made the usual Saturday morning trek to the area for recreational fishing and was shocked by what greeted them. Photo by Ricardo Makyn. —The (Jamaica) Gleaner, December 10, 2023 |
It began slowly at first. Mary was the first to notice the algae’s tendrils, wispy and scarlet, intertwining with the seagrasses. But like the warmer winters, she paid it no mind, for she was determined to finish her Christmas shopping in New Kingston before the end of the day.
As far as she saw
in the season of light, fish
drowning in the sea.
Author’s Note: Whatever the source of the buildup of nutrients, either from sewage or ship impacts, Jamaican authorities need to develop policies that limit the spread and severity of devastating red tides.
Geoffrey Philp, a Silver Musgrave Medal recipient, is the author of Archipelagos, a book of poems about climate change which was long-listed for the Laurel Prize. Philp’s Twelve Poems and a Story for Christmas retells the nativity story, transporting readers back to that holy night in a fresh yet traditional way. His poem “A Prayer for My Children” is featured on The Poetry Rail—an homage to 12 writers who shaped Miami's culture. He lives in Miami and is working on a children's book Marsha and the Mangroves.