Paper Or Plastic?
East Harwich, MA
2015, Junior, Poetry & Spoken Word
The constant smell that triggers sight of rubble in the wind
By the ocean I stand
like any other day
until the sky turns a dark color matching my expression
In years past the sight never threatened me
but in place gave me the right to continue on my journey,
to the 1 million seabirds that suffer from our unrighteous convenience
have no voice to respond in tears,
as they perhaps would in nature allowed
and to the ocean itself in which chemicals embedded within.
killing it.
A nice thank you from us for the
beauty and serenity?
Wanting to apologize is possibly the first step,
in this, in sight goal if a ban is stated and spread
a taser to the heart that plastic bag brings me,
not from itself,
but from the people who either aren’t informed,
or in the end don’t support the future of the place we call home.
As I watch the bag drift into the ocean,
too far from reach
I think of the innocent seagull,
seal, and sea turtle
that one bag has the power to kill.
The power given to a lifeless creation of man,
is unruly
and should be stolen,
as it could be if it was not supported.
The 8 million tons of plastic dumped in the ocean every year,
is but a portion of the 100 billion in the U.S alone.
The crucial decision you make,
that seems very small,
could have very well saved that seagull you are admiring on the beach
The headache it gives me,
to think that some people
although know what they are doing,
do it anyway,
endangering species,
and killing things they admire.
The ruthlessness
adds on to the repulsive fumes and dioxins infusing the air,
and impaling common sense in the minds of the innocent with a dagger of persuasion.
Some, like me, hope to ban such cruelty,
in the sense of succeeding against the environmentally brutal government
the money they gain in small fractions,
and the power they obtain in the process destroying the oceans and marine wildlife
is, to them, more important than keeping the start of mother nature.
I look out one last time pressing my temples,
because of the stress it brings me,
to think of the animals in distress,
imagine being in their position,
death grasping your neck violently
and bringing you into the dark waters which you always knew could lead to danger.
His cold breath atop your neck and his burning fingers,
incinerating your vertebrae and the protective cartilage.
Wanting a second chance,
when you know there isn’t room for one.
A reawakening cold tear emerges around my eyelid as I squint
and the coldness is as deep and visible
as the hearts of whom don’t choose
recyclable or paper over plastic
it freezes against my skin,
and here is my message to you
Don’t be blind to the obvious crime
a plastic dead soul drifting and landing on a tree
the branch,
expressionless,
motionless,
you have to transform the dark sky in your way,
into the brightest day you’ve every seen with your new dazzling eyes,
Reflection
Living by the ocean and watching people throw away plastic bags is like watching people kill an animal. It brings me external and internal pain and I have always wanted to spread the word about how this could potentially end the world as we know it, as animals play an important role in our food chain and other systems. We are causing detrimental harm to them and their habitat and we really should reverse the placement we have put them in. I have contacted my government senator recently about banning plastic bags in the state, but have yet received a reply. I was ecstatic about this contest when I heard about it, and not specifically for the prize like many others. I have a passion for saving marine animals and banning plastic bags worldwide because of a film we watched in science class in school which completely changed my point of view on this subject. I also have acquired a fondness of the written word which helps me express my opinion on mainly improving the world in subjects like war, peace, environmental, love, and water. I have seen dead baby seals washed up on the beach and have seen the plastic soda connectors lying near by leaving marks on the neck of the poor and defenseless victim. I thank you extremely for considering me in this contest, for it means the world and more to me.