Ode to Kinder Morgan and the Salish Sea

It's not often that we publish poetry. But this submission got my attention.

Here's Vancouver resident H. Barry Cotton's poem about Kinder Morgan's proposal to twin its Trans Mountain pipeline:

Our Salish Sea

I used to pass by every day
And look out there in English Bay
To breathe the fresh Pacific air
And see the freighters ‘way out there.
For many years it’s come to be
Part of our normal scenery.

We know that harbour regulations
Precluded all those cleaning operations,
Like blowing tanks, and other chores,
Which would pollute our pristine shores;
And accidents ? No need to fear
When we still had our Coastguard here.

But if one truth were ever known
It’s this: - humans are prone
To foul-ups and incompetence,
No matter what the circumstance.
What industry can give us proof
That they have never made a goof ?

So now we have this corporate gorgon
Going by name of Kinder Morgan,
Who’re backed up by the Fed’s consent
And claim they’e not incompetent.
One tanker in on every tide
And others all queued-up outside.

And what is it the pundits see 
As tankers ‘cross the Salish sea ?
Why dividends for Kinder Morgan -
Blow the trumpet ! Sound the organ !
And dividends for you and me ?  
We’ll get the clean-up costs - you’ll see !

- H. Barry Cotton, March 2014