On Borrowed Time

With every newfound expertise
this infant 21st century,
with every new discovery, a side effect--
another imminent way to die.

 

And all of us now share the debt
which must be, will be paid;
we have the luxury of cowering
in our homes, our vehicles perhaps,
until those too, will shelter us, no more.

Pacific shores will take the rising tide
a little while, gazing at the mountains
until they too, begin to be assaulted
in the surf.

Then the redwoods fall before
the whine of saws,
astrommers watch asteroids, and
plot their paths to earth.

 

Farmers find more pesticides are needed,
and then they cost too much--
fertilizers weaken every year--
while we at home send prayer aloft,
holding back another storm,
then simultaneously create
a climate change to bring on more
in each successive year.

 

We drill into the earth with chemicals,
fracking the rocks beneath to draw
the dregs of oil remaining--while
the children die because the former
rich supply of food is less...
and less outpouring
to a starving continent.

 

And at the poles,
inhabitants are hunted now,
the young are prized for their soft coats.
and soon will be no more.

We all are victims hoping for
a little slice of disappearing pie
--the one we made of love
before the master of the clock
calls in the hours we borrowed.

Minutes drain away,
and finally between the seconds,
grasping fingers of necessity,
a precious, tumbling time
before the world is still.

 

It is rather like the gladiators
in the arena, isn't it?--
turning to the emperor:
We who are about to die
salute...
but there is no one there!
          ~

 

Reviews

[Neville]

Wow this is certainly apocalyptic to state the very least & probably a joyous read to those who might be contemplating self determination... I'm most certainly not but enjoyed it anyway. Cheers, N

[Marie]

Not an optimist are you?

[Dean]

indeed, not