Worried Walter

“We have to look after the water,” said Walter,

“And not use too much fossil fuel,

The planet is tiny, the planet is fragile,

That’s what they teach me at school.”

“Nonsense,” said Dad, “The planet’s enormous,

And water just falls from the sky,

They teach you some rubbish at school. Don’t you listen,

They don’t know the how and the why.”

“Each time you turn on a light switch,” said Walter,

Its puts C02 in the air.

And everything gets just a little bit warmer.”

“Do you know lad, I really don’t care.

I don’t object if it wants to get warmer,

Not that I think that it will.

But turn off the light if you want to though Walter,

It will save a few pence on the bill.”

“The planet is tiny, the planet it fragile

The planet is falling apart. 

If it gets any worse I’ll be worried to pieces

It really is breaking my heart.”

“Why are you always worrying Walter?

What is there to worry about?”

“I’m worried the world will get worse while I worry.”

“Its pointless to worry ‘bout nout.”

“Its not nout,” said Walter, “Its water and weather

And whether the world will be cooked.”

“Don’t be daft, lad. You can’t cook a planet.

Its too big. You just haven’t looked.

Its got cold bits and hot bits and warm bits and mild bits

And lots of bits covered in seas,

There’s wet bits and dry bits and low bits and high bits

And miles all grown over with trees.”

“When we’re going on holiday, Dad, can we cycle?

I really would rather not fly.”

“Well that might be tricky, lad” said his father,

“Since we’re going to see Auntie Di.”

“I’ll take the train, Dad, if it’s too far to cycle.

Not a plane, cos I’d just feel a failure.”

“You might have a problem with that idea Walter,

Since Auntie Di lives in Australia.”

Auntie Di’s garden was all dry and salty

And she could get nothing to grow.

“There used to be flowers and there used to be grass

It would grow anything I could sow.

The climate is changing, the climate is warming,

That one thing is perfectly clear.

And its caused by the things that the people are doing

And getting worse every year.”

“I have to admit, the world is enormous,

I certainly got that wrong, Dad,

But I wasn’t wrong about water and warming,”

Said Walter, still worrying like mad.

Uncle Joe said, “Just look at this thing that I’m building

I’m turning the sun into power,

With the help of some mirrors I’m heating up water

At the top of a very high tower.”

“I’m still a bit worried,” said Walter to father

“Well that’s nothing new little lad,

“But I’ve got news. I’m going to work with your uncle,

Meet your new ecological Dad!

He’s asked me to work on his solar tower business

And I have decided to stay.

Auntie Di wants to see some more of you Walter

And your cousins would like you to play.

“I’ll still be a little bit worried,” said Walter

“Cos worrying is what I do.

But I’m glad you are going to be helping to make

Electricity without C02.”

“The weather, the world and the water,” said Walter,

“They really were spoiling my fun,

But the thing that is making it all so much better

Is the wonderful power of the sun.”