Unwavering
Aiea, HI
2020, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
It is one drop
That’s teeming with life,
Extending its long limbs to cradle us atop
Caressing hands, to shield our eyes from strife
And offer us reserves of sustenance
For all eternity,
Which now is shattered shards of glass
Unable to be recognized because of stifling fog
And coatings of dirt, dusty imprints masking
Unseeable seas and unspeakable spoken dialogue
Of transience:
Our lives which steal from the depleting sources that we crave
Insatiably, to satisfy ourselves, being ignorant of danger that is imminent,
Our lives which fade at foam-filled fall of watery wave,
Yet litter land and sand with infinite
Destruction,
Our lives which kindle fiery flames that eat away
The only shelter for the innocent afloat.
These lives rinse vibrant canvases, reducing the array
Of color to sole droplets, transform blue oases to remote
Dreams,
Betray our children as we poison with pollution the
Pristine expanse: the ocean brimming with
Tears.
It’s overflowing,
Yet we will catch
Every falling drop,
Every pint,
Every gallon
Every ocean
Until we can hold
No more.
Let us untie our blindfolds,
Step with our own feet
Out from our hiding places
To stare at the eyes of these issues,
By spreading knowledge,
Participating in our movements,
And being involved.
We can leave harmful habits far behind in dust—
Instead embrace the use of energy that’s clean and the
Consumption of the earth’s resources done mindfully.
We must plant sprouts of hope,
Restoring forests, wetlands, grasslands,
For air to breathe and water to drink.
Together we will educate,
Collaborate with others.
Together we will rise.
We’ll douse these flames
And drizzle streams of vivid paint
On monochromatic surfaces,
Rebuilding oceanic homes, restoring lives.
Our nature is transitory yet
An intertwining network of roots
Creating endless ripples:
The everlasting change.
We scatter the uncertainty
And piece together eternity.
We see and hear once more
And know
This drop is one.
This drop is all.
Works Cited
The Climate Reality Project. “Natural Solutions to the Climate Crisis.” 18 July 2019, www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/natural-solutions-climate-crisis. Accessed 13 June 2020.
Top 10 Things You Can Do about Climate Change. David Suzuki Foundation, 2020, davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/. Accessed 13 June 2020.
The Wilderness Society. “5 Ways to Fight the Climate Crisis in 2020.” Climate Change Solutions, edited by EcoWatch, EcoWatch, 9 Jan. 2020, www.google.com/amp/s/www.ecowatch.com/amp/climate-change-solutions-2644657627. Accessed 13 June 2020.
Reflection
Reflection
Participating in this contest was a great experience because I love writing poetry and care about the environment. Although I did not have a specific inspiration, I first began by researching. I discovered more about the climate crisis (such as the oceans increasing in acidity and its effects) and the actions people can take and have been taking. I just started writing after that. I want to raise awareness of the current problems yet bring hope and strength to readers. Transience, which figuratively tramples over eternity, as well as transient beings (humans) who pollute the air and water, will cause the earth to be unrecognizable through our long-term destruction—if we don't take action. However, there is hope. If we face these issues and personally take action, we can restore terrestrial lives and the incurred damage. Every drop of water is important, just as every action is essential. I have hope because there are leaders and movements dedicated to climate change. Local involvement, the use of technology and renewable energy, and the culmination of small actions can make a momentous difference. I have already been taking action: participating in climate events and being a vegetarian. From now on, though, I want to continue being involved—by supporting legislations and, in the future, voting for leaders who prioritize climate change. I will be more mindful (through such actions as upcycling and bicycling) and will spread my knowledge and passion to others so more of us recognize the importance of climate change.