Sustainability is bandied about
like it is a new concept
a new promise
to be broken
like a hundred treaties
or government bills
to transform to change
an empty commitment
to the future
and a generation to come
that isn’t here yet
to hold accountable
the promise
with no substance
double speak
to recycle rather than
develop that which is biodegradable
and doesn’t require recycling to salvage
its value in relation to everything else
sustain
maintain
contain
refrain
fain
detain
slain
wane
pain
again
insane to do the same
and expect different results
the lie
the promise
the polar bears have heard it all
as they swim to further shores
drown as they starve
and their population declines
fires rage and forests die
the grounds collapse
as eagles cry
and deserts are born
as the wind blows
modified corn
they found whale bones
in the desert
dinosaur skeletons in rock
cave drawings of animals
once sacred
and when the old growth
of red cedars and sequoias and palm
are gone to make paper
but we proudly say we recycle
can we stand in the shade
instead of stopping deforestation
we plant trees that will take twenty years to grow
and will never catch up
to decarbon like their felled brothers
we will not stop
creating excess carbon
rather lets invent ways to take carbon
out of the air
and store it
we will not give up
our oil, gas and coal
waiting for electric cars
while oil sands are ripped from the earth
we consume more
and waste more
we do not cry
as the whale, dolphin and shark
fill up on plastic waste
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Is not a travel destination
micro plastics in the water
then in the fish
and the food chain
in us
plastic bottles for water filled with plastic
and the indigenous peoples
have no clean water
while large corporations
bottle water for free
shall our tears
feed the wells
of broken promises
before the desserts
expand as the graveyard
of the trees
sacrificed for progress
The Paris Agreement
The Kyoto Accord
oil prices soar
as Russia wars
sanctions do not prevent death
destruction does not promote life
Plastic wraps around the seals throat
and chokes it til it drowns
Birds tangle in discarded masks
of a pandemic
we grow tired of
the promises are broken
the plastics have won
we sustain the greed
the wealth
the plastics
and in so doing
let the polar bear disappear
let the seal choke
let the whale, dophin and shark drown
the indigenous people thirst
float islands of plastic
drink micro plastics
and when we die
we will be sustained
by all the plastic
we consume
footprints of carbon
stamped across the earth, the air, the seas
commit to the minimum
make long term plans
so there is no accountability
for current government terms
in office
and breaking them
is someone elses problem
the youth of today
have a lot to be accountable for
we will have our needs met
future generations can adjust their needs
Put some polar bears in zoos
whales, dolphins and sharks too
stuff some seals for the musem
Tell the indigenous you’re sorry
use more oil, gas and coal
sell islands of plastic as resorts
call it recycling
have more meetings online
but don’t stop flying
it averages out
commit to sustaining
your way of life
for to change
would be too hard
let the next generation
do it
we have a lifestyle
to sustain
the earth to consume
(c)2022 Catherine Elder
