Silent Abuse
Rock Hill, SC
2016, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
I started out crystal blue,
Then God brought Me you.
You started out all fun and games;
til you came and forgot My name
I became less important than your desires
discarded food and burning tires.
You brought a different meaning
When you came down dancin and singing
I started fading into a murky blue
Then you started trashing my beaches too.
Is driving a car or watching tv that important if you’re destroying me?
In reality?
I never tend to harm you, neither do my creatures.
But you’re causing more harm, let me be the teacher.
That bottle you left just choked a sea turtle,
That plastic off a six pack is now a whole different kinda hurdle.
It’s wrapped around my poor sea lion’s neck,
And ‘bout that cigarette you threw of the main deck…
All those little things you forget,
The wrappers, plastic cups, the rubber bands from your tents.
Or the machines you install to take my oil,
You’re causing the atmosphere to rise to a broil,
You’re destroying my wildlife,
Invading my reefs like a parasite.
Meanwhile, my animals are becoming paralyzed
By the muck you spill and leave behind.
My waves sent crashing,
Bashing.
Grasping,
Gasping for one more breath.
You see My tides forever changing.
Your wanting,
Needing,
Gotta have it,
Until the day there’s no more Me left
Reflection
I started off in this contest with an idea of drawing this elaborate picture, but I realized I couldn’t explain it. After that moment I began writing and researching all different kinds of pollution and its effects on the ocean. I came up with the idea to personify the ocean to create a personal feeling between the reader and the narrator point of view of the ocean, while remaining on how the ocean came first and humans are invading its space creating a dangerous living environment for the creatures in it. I feel like water is one of the most impactful elements in the world besides fire, of course, and even water puts that out. I believe the ocean should be respected and protected from harmful elements that we create. We don’t have to get rid of everything, but we need to learn how to dispose of materials wisely so waste doesn’t continue to build in our oceans and I believe I could best illustrate this belief through my words instead of a drawing.