This
poem is a forest of green leaves.
This
poem is an ocean without plastic.
This
poem is air with no chemical vapours.
This
poem wants to let you know
that the shade of green of the leaves tells you
the
state of the tree: old or young, ill or well,
and
how close to dying. Then you can see
the
condition of the whole forest.
This
poem is a thick forest of bright green leaves.
This
poem wants to make you remember
a
time when the oceans were sparkling clean,
home
only to fish and coral, rock and reed
and
the great sea mammals that roam the earth —
a
time when rubbish would sink and disintegrate.
This
poem is a clean ocean without any plastic.
This
poem means to show you
a
sky without a chemtrail, air with no smog.
This
poem indicates, with a vast gesture,
air
of a clarity you never saw in your whole lifetime.
This
is what air was created to be.
This
poem is clear air with no trace of chemical vapours.
This
poem is a thick, impossible forest no-one chops or burns.
This
poem is a clean, impossible ocean free of any floating islands of plastic.
This
poem is clear, impossible air from which we have eradicated
all
traces of chemical vapours. ... This poem is impossible.
Written for Poets United's Midweek Motif, Sustainability. The form is Boomerang Metaphors, invented by Hannah Gosselin — with my own extra twist at the end.
This poem maybe impossible literally but is astounding in all other ways...if only..if only..we could undo all those things..
ReplyDeleteOh! The cadence and content/images here sets up a momentum that is so seductive that I want it to keep going. The period at the end is heartbreaking!
ReplyDeleteRosemary,
ReplyDeleteI wish that the world would take note of the impossible task it has set itself, with the damage already done..Your poem holds the evidence within each line..
Eileen
This poem is amazing. I love all the beauty and simplicity you evoke here. The ending is impssibly sad.
ReplyDeletethis poem is a beautiful dream if only we could make it possible...the final note is so poignant...i also used Hannah's boomerang metaphors for today's prompt...
ReplyDeleteThe last line...this poem is impossible...actually made me wince thinking if only...if only...this could be a reality. A beautiful and heart touching poem. Touched me to the core :)
ReplyDeleteHave we come to a point of no return? I feel helpless reading this poem. Great read.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was, and what a contrast to what is today. It's good to have the picture to work toward it, if only we ALL make this effort! :)x
ReplyDeleteReflection is a great thing, and it can be visualized from this piece. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI loved the boomerang metaphors form in which you have presented this wonderful poem :D
ReplyDelete'This poem is a thick forest of bright green leaves.' - I think I would wish all my poems to be this!
ReplyDeleteOh - and what a sobering ending. Really socks it home...
Perhaps the disaster is just a little too far off to worry people. When it becomes critical it will be too late as most of us will sleeping under the earth and those survivors will curse us for not foreseeing the impending disaster. Politicians, developers, industrialists and financiers will claim ignorance and denial as they are doing now.
ReplyDeleteSome of us have been screaming about it for decades!
DeleteThis poem is a clear, impassioned voice of reason trying to make itself heard above the cacophonous din of industry chugging out poisons...
ReplyDeleteluv your projections for the future
ReplyDelete"This poem is a forest of green leaves.
This poem is an ocean without plastic.
This poem is air with no chemical vapours."
much love...
That 2015 prediction pretty much came to pass... this poem is impossible... still is 8 years on with no real action... scary.
ReplyDelete*Sad*
Delete