Toxic Reckoning
A darkly comic environmental poem in which an abused and exhausted Earth turns the tables on humanity. Surrounded by pollution and toxic waste, the planet finds an unlikely way to cope with mankind’s destruction — and reminds us that Earth may survive long after we are gone.
Abused by man,
Earth is depressed.
Exuding deadly toxins
Built up in modern years.
“You know what,” she said,
“To ease this ghastly stress.
I’ll devour all this ganga
Budding in Casamance.”
“Oh, my,” she said.
“I feel so high.
Ungrateful man,
Your end is nigh.
When you’re long gone,
I’ll still be fine.”
She burps.
A floral essence,
Dissipates
Into verse.
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