Gore Reads Poem, Harry Smith Swoons: 'Wow...I’m Happy to Hear it in Your Voice'

December 15th, 2009 5:22 PM

In an interview to be aired on the CBS "Early Show" Wednesday, Nobel Laureate Al Gore read his global warming poem to Harry Smith.

Even worse, the 23-year CBS veteran journalist, almost like a teenybopper swooning as she approaches a rock star for an autograph, actually asked the former Vice President to read it to him.

When the Global Warmingist-in-Chief was done, Smith said breathlessly, "Wow. I'm so glad you read that...I'm happy to hear it in your voice."

Readers are cautioned to stow liquids and flammables at a safe distance before proceeding (video embedded below the fold with transcript, h/t Story Balloon):

HARRY SMITH, HOST: You've written plenty of words before, but to the best of my knowledge, I'm not sure I've ever seen you write a poem before. Is that true?

AL GORE: That's true. Yeah.

SMITH: So, just for us, if you don't mind, would you, would you read the poem?

GORE: Sure. You want me to tell you what it's about?

SMITH: Please.

GORE: The impacts of the climate crisis really do not make up the focus of "Our Choice." "Our Choice" is about the solutions to the climate crisis. But in a brief summary of the impacts and what their implications are, rather than go into them in detail, I just, kind of did some brushstrokes, and don't claim to be a poet. It's just how it came out.

One thin September soon
A floating continent disappears
In midnight sun

Vapors rise as
Fever settles on an acid sea
Neptune's bones dissolve

Snow glides from the mountain
Ice fathers floods for a season
A hard rain comes quickly

Then dirt is parched
Kindling is placed in the forest
For the lightning's celebration

Unknown creatures
Take their leave, unmourned
Horsemen ready their stirrups

Passion seeks heroes and friends
The bell of the city
On the hill is rung

The shepherd cries
The hour of choosing has arrived
Here are your tools

SMITH: Wow. I'm so glad you read that. I was, really, I'm very happy...

GORE: Thanks for asking me.

SMITH: I'm happy to hear it in your voice.

GORE: Well, thank you.

Readers are advised that Gore is WAY too busy to discuss climate change with John Stossel, and is WAY too busy to answer questions about ClimateGate.

However, he's NEVER too busy to read poetry to journalists.

Hey -- a Nobel Laureate has to have priorities, right?