(Repost) Atmospheric River

As we are once again fording the atmospheric river, here's the villanelle (!!) I wrote about the one in 2022:

(Climate Change Villanelle)
After an image by K.

Consider the atmospheric river
as a dragon, slithering through peri-
apocalyptic skies. The end is never

reached of all this rain. Its teeth of silver
gnaw the bones of men who refused boldly
to consider the atmospheric river

as a dragon, not just as the weather,
winning us the wages of false bravery:
apocalyptic skies. The end is never-

ending. Consider the dragon, glitter-
ing, greedy, cruel and wise; now carefully
consider the atmospheric river

as an alternative to the wither-
ing coils of smoke, wildfires' choking, hazy
apocalyptic skies. The end is never

quite what you expect or would prefer.
Drink if you wish, smoke up, get high, daily
consider the atmospheric river,
apocalyptic skies. The end is nigh.