On China’s Air Pollution: An Urbanelle, Winter 2013

“How the Chimney-sweeper’s cry/ Every blackning Church appalls…”
—William Blake, London

“The Beijing Cough may not be as bad as the Hebei Hack.”
—Wu “Sacred Bee” Li

In Beijing, air pollution is so bad
the smog is visible from outer space.
The city’s in a hazy blanket clad.

The people don white masks and wish they had
much cleaner air for each assaulted face;
in Beijing, air pollution is so bad.

Coal burning has shot through the roof. It’s sad,
with breathing problems some must slow their pace.
The city’s in a hazy blanket clad.

Five million vehicles, with more to add,
are fuelling this harsh, self-inflicted mace;
in Beijing, air pollution is so bad.

Like London once, now here no one is glad.
To taste soot-dirty air, like this, is base.
The city’s in a hazy blanket clad.

Jet flights are cancelled; travelers are mad.
Gross, smoky fog makes many hate the place.
In Beijing, air pollution is so bad;
the city’s in a hazy blanket clad.

-Bruce Dale Wise