God’s science project

another theory

Water, iron, a little ice, constant heat and light; some layers for protection
Oxygen for photosynthesis, and I made life’s direction

I was happy, but ambition made me make more to keep them awed
Warm and steamy, giant reptiles grew. I was truly God.

I blasted Earth. The explosion wrapped it in a cloud.
When the long, dark, cold winter past, the fish, animals, and plants sang loud.

But life didn’t know itself. I wondered what I’d see.
If I gave humans self to sense existence and imagine what could be.

They made tools to hunt and cook and farm, everything put to use
They figured everything: fire, food, comfort. Technology’s their noose.

They imagine a magical god created it all, but their images vary.
They justify anything in its names, bigotry, genocide and war... very scary

Fear, logic and imagination. A mix that makes them struggle how to function.
They know to do to others like they want done to them, but it’s still self-destruction.

They stir fear to justify keeping wealth from hopeless folk.
The impoverished refugees who kill each other to escape the yoke.

The disenfranchised become terrorists who take aim.
Blowing up or mowing down, innocents they maim.

It’s war and murder on infinite repeat. Tribes in the desert. Gangs in cities.
The rich pay to live forever. The poor make more militants no one pities.

Givers send money, not opportunity.
Visionaries just get murdered, killed with impunity.

Humans don’t need much, but consume all they make
Waste poisons ground, water, and air as they take.

Combustion machines flow steady on concrete veins.
Clogging natures heart to strains.

Temperatures highest ever. Humans killing their host.
Massive storms destroy and kill. That’s what hurts the most.

Each invention and kind act offset by injustice or violent mayhem
The problem isn’t one’s to solve, it’s that there’s too many of them.

Maybe software can keep them at home, preoccupied so they don’t kill or breed.
Considering their destruction, perhaps it’s my last good deed.

They will kill themselves I think. One final distinction.
The only species to warn itself, but not stop its self-induced extinction.

Self-righteousness, violent response to fear, power-lust. That’s what I ought to take.
Giving people the idea they matter. That was my mistake.

Reviews

[Kenny N]

Nathan this piece is just...wow. Absolutely stunning. It's funny how often I've wondered about our place here and our purpose. This poem definitely put some of those thoughts right out there, but in a very eloquent and precise way. Thanks for sharing it.

[Nathan Spark]

Glad we connected on this one. Thank you! I thought of it as a bit of a joke -- 15-year-old-as-God -- but then I lost the lighter side of the whole thing and that's what came out. Again, I appreciate your thoughts, input ... whatever you have to give.