---
title: Chilean poet Ariel Dorfman lends his voice to the cause
date: 2009-07-27T17:23:31Z
modified: 2009-07-27T18:48:30Z
permalink: "https://350.org/chilean-poet-ariel-dorman-lends-his-voice-cause/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: To communicate concepts that can sometimes seem abstract - 350, parts per million, atmospheric carbon dioxide - we look to artists, the great communicators of the world, to help us convey their mea
wpid: 4849
---

To communicate concepts that can sometimes seem abstract – 350, parts per million, atmospheric carbon dioxide – we look to artists, the great communicators of the world, to help us convey their meaning. At the heart of the matter, 350 is simply a goal and a symbol that we’ve gone too far. To help communicate this message, we’ve reached out to artists of all kinds, from graffiti artists to dancers, and most recently, to writers. As you may know, 350.org director Bill McKibben is primarily a writer – he wrote the first book about climate change for a general audience back in 1989. Now he’s looking to his colleagues to see how they can use their craft to inspire and make a difference. Just a few days ago we got in our first submission, from the great Chilean poet Ariel Dorfman. Please read below for inspiration, and check back here for more pieces from 350 Writers!

**POEM FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN OF THREE FIVE 0**
 by Ariel Dorfman

 Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear

 What should I do?

 The polar bears are dying out.

 Oh dear Oh dear

 The children cannot breathe.

 What should I do?

 The elephants have nowhere 
 to flee.
 The elephants Oh dear it’s true.

 What should I 
 can I 
 must I do?

 Oh dear Oh 
 Three Five O 
 Oh dear that scares me scares me so
 Oh dear we won’t survive
 Three Five O up in the sky
 and no more birth 
 and it’s good-bye.

 The seventh extinction is on its way.
 Can the eighth extinction be far behind?

 Oh dear
 It’s much too big for little me

 Not a tree not a tree
 not even a shade of green.

 Oh dear oh dear.
 The cities all 
 vanished 
 wiped out.

 The drought the plague the black dark 
 death.
 Not even a bird 
 for our last breath.

 And there’s nothing 
 nothing 
 nothing 
 I can do.

 Much too big for you for him for her for me.

 We’re melting the sea.

 Oh dear

 Oh.

 Oh if I could only trust 
 the hand that is close 
 the hand that is here

 Oh if I could count all over again
 but not with dread.

 Maybe one plus one makes more than two
 maybe three can be three million strong 
 in fact 
 maybe five means five billion tall 
 ready to act

 to make that O the sign of birth 
 and not the mark 
 of nightmares long 
 and lonely bread.

 Three Five O 
 Dot.Org
 Three Five O

 organizers bold
 bells that toll
 climbers on the mountain
 divers under the reef

 we’ll come together

 we’ll come together
 in every corner of the earth

 we have very little time
 but we have each other

 we have very little time
 but I have little you 
 and you have little me

 and time enough for us 
 to act and be free
 as long as we have each other
 one hand in my hand
 there can only be birth

 my dear oh my dear

 there’s just love enough and time 
 now and here

 now and here

 to act and then nothing 
 nothing
 nothing 
 to fear