Climate of Lament

In this unique collection of poetry and prose, twenty-two contributors from diverse fields and countries respond to the climate crisis with voices of honesty and care. Each chapter pairs a personal poetic lament with a reflective essay that reveals the author’s connection to place, and to the wider world community. These laments are grounded in the particular, yet they speak to the shared grief of a planet in distress. Drawing on the insights of theologian Walter Brueggemann, the editors weave these contributions into a journey through Reality, Grief, Hope. The introduction and conclusion invite readers to see environmental issues not only as data but as deeply human concerns that call for mourning, but also for a renewed imagination. Climate of Lament is not merely a diagnosis of the world’s pain but also an invitation to inhabit lament as an act of courage and hope.