At the End of Earth, a Single Tree
At the end of the earth there is a tree,
the last tree to exist, the last voice of life,
and with no audience at all it speaks,
in dulcet tones, so aged yet smooth,
so articulate, and knowing…
‘Time has marked this energy of mine,
and now that earth is failing
and death pervades the ether,
I must say what is in my soul,
to be heard by no-one, just an intermittent breeze.’
‘Life begets life, and death begets death,
and when balance fails so does the symbiosis,
the reliance breaking down,
the beauty tainted by disconnection,
and the energy wanes, one to another, as one we fall.’
‘There is no fault, no blame, just what is,
harmony or not, life struggled
and souls found purpose,
opportunity to thrive and share
and discover the power of love.’
‘Yet as time passed and arrogance rose,
technology became the focus,
achievements sought rather than the journey taken,
and slowly self-interest prevailed,
the rituals of accumulation and greed profound.’
‘Soon love became degraded,
taken for physical pleasure and gluttony,
and relationships fell to menial reasoning,
as the paradigm of love changed,
and self became master.’
‘Systems fell because love was removed,
wars increased because hate was easier,
and soon decimation became the norm,
death commonplace and love some fairy tale
only existing in fables.’
‘Evil then had a foothold, for no-one cared,
just about themselves and bettering their lives,
competition creating contention,
and contention creating violent rage,
as love was nowhere to be seen.’
‘Eventually hate and evil won the battle,
and as the earth slowly disconnected from humanity,
natural disasters swept the globe,
trying desperately to balance the travesty
of loveless thought.’
‘So species began to die, become extinct
in the face of environmental change,
and no-one cared, to intervene,
and as habitats fell so did crops,
our food and water contaminated and disappearing.’
‘Eventually viruses became rampant,
nature desperate to cull the force of death,
that man had created in arrogant taking,
the earth slowly dying as humanity,
and the cries of pain and suffering were palpable.’
‘Now, I am the last living thing upon the earth,
a tree who tried to maintain our Mother’s will,
but it is all too late, and as the stars shine in the forever sky,
planet earth has finally found peace in death,
and I along with it.’
Tony DeLorger © 2018
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Sad, so sad, yet beautifully written, Tony. A profound message to humanity. Great work dear poet.
Much appreciated Phyllis, glad you found it compelling. Cheers!
If only all of mankind would read this and try to learn the lesson presented in this poem – but, sadly we seem not to learn… enjoyed Tony.
Much appreciated Kurt, and the truth is, soon it will be too late. Cheers!
Unfortunately this isn’t science fiction and could easily become a grim reality, Tony, unless we turn things around..and quickly. A great write as always.
Glad you appreciated it John; its worrying alright. Cheers!