Outrageous
By Rob Kistner | April 26, 2008
Outrageous
•
watch them
see them
in their cavernous dwellings
shrines to excess
to waste
testaments to foolish disregard
for our precious planet
observe them hoist themselves
to command positions
in gluttonous drive-time dinosaurs
dreaded treaded behemoths
that bully across the face
of our crippled planet
devouring resources
like a herd
of metallic mastodons
a relentless forage
of fragile fossil fuel
to suck dry
the paleozoic nectar
300 million years
in the making
a fraction of that
in the plunder
and depletion
by frivolous toys
of self-extinction
that spew forth
poisonous discharge
fouling the atmosphere
pummeling our frail ecosystem
shoving earth closer
ever closer
to the brink of no return
to satisfy a toxic desire
for bigger
gaudier
faster
hungrier
to feed
a caustic ego
to assert
perceived dominion
they are the elite
the special
the outrageously dangerous
they
are you and I
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
Topics: Free Verse, Poetry |
April 26th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I do marvel at the use of words and the ablity of people to come up with some pretty brilliant work.
Yours is no exception.
April 27th, 2008 at 8:10 am
This is an outstanding piece. I particularly like the prehistoric motif running through it. Here we are, citizens of the modern world, acting as if we are mere creatures living in caves who don’t know any better. Our inaction is inexcusable. I hope we haven’t left it too late.
April 27th, 2008 at 8:27 am
such wonderful imagery. different. but so accurate.
thank you so much for all the encouraging words. its exactly what i need. someone to push me to do better.
April 27th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Steve -
Thank you for your kind ‘words’…
April 27th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Selma -
I’m very pleased you enjoyed this…
I too hope that humankind is waking to the very real urgency of our current situation. We need to be responsive, because arrogantly refusing to do so will be our downfall — but we can be so prone to our misguided ego.
I think there are enough voices of concern that a bright future is coming.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:00 am
San -
You are kind, thank you…
You have talent and simply need to challenge yourself to keep gradually lifting the bar — you have the tools and the soul to do so.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
This is the best yet! I read it aloud to Otto and he insisted on my immediately printing it out so that he can keep it. He would like to know if you will give him permission to use it elsewhere, with author and copyright credits of course.
After you commented on my Sunday Scribblings post, I added another portion (of Prose), telling of some of Otto’s activities. Look him up on Wikipedia under Otto J. M. Smith, for a fuller profile. Also, if you are not averse to letting us know, he requests your mailing address.
Congratulations on the poem that says it all! It reminds me of my favorite quote - from Walt Kelly’s Pogo - “We has met the enemy and he is us.”
April 28th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I guessed that was coming - ‘cos it’s so true!
April 28th, 2008 at 7:48 am
we are dangerous.. just was reading about the huge glacier that broke down in antartica recently, does scare me a lot..
April 28th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Oh my! Such vivid pictures in my head!
April 29th, 2008 at 1:04 am
This was an outstanding piece, linking references to prehistoric times and what we are doing now
The heedless way in which we are destroying nature for selfish purposes needs to be checked, am so glad you put this across in this piece.
April 29th, 2008 at 9:20 am
I think most people agree we’re polluting the earth but people bitch about the price of gas rather than stop driving or do anything of consequence
I just moved to a state where they don’t even recycle–would make it my cause but I have too many others
Very forceful and timely
April 29th, 2008 at 9:27 am
a relentless forage
of fragile fossil fuel
perfect!!
April 29th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I’ve been outraged by so many things lately it was hard to pick out just one! A good post!
April 29th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
“paleozoic nectar” is a great phrase… like the rest of the poem too but this stood out for me
April 30th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Rob, it feels so good to be back and read your work. So many great pharases here. I love all of those!
ctrl/alt/del
May 1st, 2008 at 6:17 am
excellently executed… and if the powers that be would start backing instead of blocking the implementation of alternative power sources,,, the size of the vehicles, etc.. would become inconsequential…..
for example:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiKa4nOkHLw
May 1st, 2008 at 8:55 am
So true! I’m guilty and ashamed..
May 1st, 2008 at 1:06 pm
A very effective rant! I love the use of alliteration in here!
“like a herd
of metallic mastodons
a relentless forage
of fragile fossil fuel”
May 1st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I was reading right along thinking, yeah, that’s right, and way to say what’s happening to the earth, and then the tables were turned, and I had to admit, the narrator is right. We are all a part of the problem.
Great description of SUVs, and excellent manipulation of sound.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Amazing what we’re all capable of without even realising
May 4th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Rob you keep on amazing me with each of your poems. I don’t always comment but know I love your work.
love-bd
May 15th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Great use of imagery….
in gluttonous drive-time dinosaurs
dreaded treaded behemoths
that bully across the face
of our crippled planet
- favorite lines.