What more do you expect?
Flushing, NY
2015, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
This here is a global announcement to you all.
I’d send it through my rip tides and wave jives but I’ll keep my cool.
I believe it is too soon, too soon to attack all of you.
I’m sure no harm is intended, and this can all be amended
Just listen to the tepid tunes, salty syllables, about to be suspended.
Since the existence of everything, I and we have worked for you.
Irrelevant to the evolution ideas, the creationism ideas,
And whatever we think happened too.
Theories don’t matter.
‘Cause there’s theory about my strength you’ve subdued,
and the reasons for the sky’s cerulean hues.
But that doesn’t matter.
Now into my dictation from me to you:
The filler under your horizon line.
The canvas for your moon’s reflection.
The global hydrogen portal for all to use.
The unending pool of water to accompany your beaches.
The source of your cool summer breezes.
The haven for your seafood feasts.
The home for all your aquatic beasts and
All I want is a “thank you”.
Too much you take for granted.
I am where you dump your garbage,
the piles and hills.
I am where you leak your trillion-dollar oil spills.
I am where your carbon emits,
infiltrating even my deepest pits.
I don’t know if you know what you’re doing to me,
I would almost hope you couldn’t see,
because to know you are purposely,
damaging these bountiful seas,
would be the most frustrating thing to me.
Now for those who do see what you do to me,
But turn a blind eye,
What more do you expect?
Do you expect my unnerving respect?
Do you expect my provisions to success?
What do you expect,
when you don’t give to get?
And it’s not like you can’t.
Now this is not a “how to”.
I’m not going to answer that question.
I’m not going to inform you.
But this is a matter of “why not?”
We must preserve what we love, as you know.
From the waters, to the trees, the atmosphere;
that’s how it goes.
So don’t turn a blind eye as though I don’t matter.
Because it’s my matter that matters,
And when it’s destroyed,
It’ll matter.
Reflection
I have always been one to appreciate nature in its entirety. I find it hard for people to truly show appreciation for the ocean because it isn’t like you are able to plant trees in it or physically filter it out. However, just spreading awareness about its destruction can help people think twice about actions that can be disadvantageous to the ocean. I wrote this poem in a spoken word format, the point-of-view being from the ocean itself. I like to give my poetry a more soulful feel; it makes it feel more real. The ocean plays such a vital role in all of our lives and ocean integrity should be more of a concern to us all.