as generations receded
as empires crumbled
greed ran rampant
as civilizations
stumbled on
so disconnected
from one another
so sadly out of touch
with the environment
as the natural world
slowly declined
diminished
withered
scarred
as the
putrid
toxic air
permeated
burnt terrain
to far horizons
until now I stand
thrusting skyward
in this decaying hell
one last dying thing
one pitiful survivor
one final sentinel
time’s witness
watching
the end
rob kistner © 2019
Make one wonder who will be the last one to bid the earth Good-bye!
Honestly Dwight, probably a cockroach! 🙂
Wow Rob. This one really touched me. I felt like I was dying with each word. It was very powerful. ????
I am pleased it resonated fir you Christine. I fear we are in the midst of humankind’s greatest blunder, the arrogance of denying climate change — climate chsnge we are contributing to. It might be a fatal blunder.
Searing words. I like the way it all comes down to that final “the end”.
We are so short-sighted.
Thank you Sarah. We humans get so caught up in “doing”, that we often don’t think about “what” we are doing — the full consequences. Seeing the big, long-range picture is not easy, but so damned important!
I like the shape of this poem. It looks like a solitary figure standing, which mirrors the tree in the photo. Your poem reminds me of Dr. Seuss’ book, The Lorax, which I read to my kids (now in their 30s) when they were little. Your quote at the top makes me wonder if we will wake up. I appreciate your poem.
I was aiming at creating a singular upright shape to reflect some standing witness, or a sentinel. I am glad that worked for you Lisa. Will we humans ever learn? I will be long gone, do all I can do is wish my grandson, and his generation the best possible future. I do not want him to suffer for our sins.
It’s a lonely stance and humanity-shaped.
Thank you Brendan!
Love the shape and format of your poem — I hear all that you say, I can feel the tinge of desperation. I too wonder of the end and all that it would entail.
Thank you Anmol, I am pleased this worked for you. I sm very glad I won’t be here to witness the future. I hope for my grandson’s sake that sanity breaks out in the future!
Very well done, Rob. The short lines are especially effective, and a very fitting ending – for lack of a better phrase. 😮
Thank you Crystal! 😉