Who Among Us?

Garth Rakumakoe

The remaining trees stare at us today

with many unanswered questions

about their many dead kin

and the deforested land

 

Who will tell them

we were making paper

to make the same money

we say does not grow on trees?

 

Who will kneel

and tell the near barren earth

that we deeply excavated her belly

for her jewels, to build skyscrapers

amass wealth and carve modern Utopias?

 

Who will explain to Mother Earth how

children died of famine under whose feet

the same jewels from her belly were mined?

Who will say I planted the landmines?

Who will say I drank the now dry rivers?

 

Who amongst us will account

for the depleted ocean life

and polluted water?

Who will say I

burnt those toxic fumes into the air

melted the ice, and pissed off the rain?

When Mother Nature asks these questions

who among us will say, It is I?

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Comments +

Comments8

  • Caring dove

    A good writing … and people can be very selfish and uncaring towards nature … I love nature so much and I hate how much it’s affected by others

    • Garth Rakumakoe

      The price of "civilization" I guess, yellowrose. I concur, much harm has been done and is still carrying on. Love, light and peace to you. Thank you for the gracious visit.

      • Caring dove

        It’s very sad (

      • Paul Bell

        I would blame the industrialised nations. Britain being high up the list in the beginning. Consumerism probably comes next. I would now say Mother Nature is responding to the plight of her garden, and with total ferocity. Man will always be greedy, and probably wouldn't be missed.

        • Garth Rakumakoe

          Very unfortunate Paul, that economic sustainability has done so much harm. Perhaps with talks of green gases and so on we could expect a turn around. The question to that is when, I guess.

          • Paul Bell

            I've noticed the mining for cobalt that are used in electric cars is already being exploited in the Congo. Even going green, we're still at it.

            • Garth Rakumakoe

              Very true dear Paul. That has been the case in the Congo since the early to mid 50's my friend, when Congo, then Zaire was a Belgian colony. The Congolese cobalt has sadly been the protagonist in the bloodshed of thousands, circa '61 - '65.

            • Neville


              filled to overflowing with sad and bitter truths ... and that summative line of yours Garth, sadly say's it all .. N

              • Garth Rakumakoe

                Thank you Neville. Much appreciated.

              • Fay Slimm.

                Oh the power in these haunting lines and the shame of civilization for its selfish greed -- this goes into my favourites for its reminders of what mother nature suffers - - and how bitterly the consumer age shall regret her pain.

                • Garth Rakumakoe

                  I guess by its very description dear Fay, consumerism suggests just that, doesn't it? That we consume. That is what consumers do. Thank you for the appreciation, gifted one.

                • dusk arising

                  In the words of a famous Billy Joel song "We didn't start the fire". But we sure can sart to put it out.

                  I have started... have you?

                  It takes more than poetry.

                  • Garth Rakumakoe

                    Profound. The question at the very heart of the matter, that determines tomorrow. It does take more that poetry. Very true. It starts with the little things in my experience.

                  • Goldfinch60

                    Very good and very true words Garth, we may be too late to save the world but those who could save the world will not as there is nothing in it for them.

                    Andy

                    • Garth Rakumakoe

                      I hate to agree with you, but I have to admit, you are right, and that is a sad state of affairs, Andy.

                    • Coyote

                      Who indeed! A very poignant write that speaks to the very soul of our being. Excellent.

                      • Garth Rakumakoe

                        Thank you for the visit dear writer. Light, peace, and blessings gifted one.

                      • dean langmuir

                        Nice write,I think mother earths heart is broke alittle,certainly dissapointed in our ways,thanks ,take care



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