today, we are asked to celebrate

the life of this sphere of humanity’s birth

to praise her duration, honor her stamina

give thanks to her beauty

but, as we gorge her on our waste,

overpopulate her in an unnatural quest

to extend life beyond a

rational norm

stuff her to brimming with the litter from our

progress, fell her state of grace

with the weight

of our manufactured goods

bury our poisons, repeatedly,

deep in her womb

remove the very life-breath from her lungs

with each felled grove of centurian forest,

with each rape of land and sea

we ignore her pleas to pay attention

while layer by protective layer

burns

simmering, volcanic

through her well-worn nerves…

often, she lays

violated

in a narcotic haze

waking briefly to beg the gods

for a wake-up call to we ignorant humans

be it an errant, unseasonal snowstorm

a quaking of her loins to decimate

(or shake us to our senses)

or begging the seas and high, angry waters

to take some pressure

off her tender heart by washing away

some of the sins of this, humanity

who show her no honor, no gratitude

for her many gifts…

listen closely as she

continually begs us for mercy

be mindful of her fragility

love all of her, always

save her

as best you can

before her release back

to her once pristine garden