the ancient ones
note to self
scientists discovered that
trees respond. that one, there—
does it feel the blaze suck air,
ignite the roots, until it’s
a pillar of raging light,
over 1400 degrees?
is this the tree that only
casts seeds when burned?
a phoenix of desolation?
all I have are questions.
what a transgression—a living
organism, 2000 years old,
is devoured by our careless
inattention. our greed.
where is our gumption,
our brilliance, spent?
what malformed gene
stuffs our head in sand?
we were warned.
we did nothing of merit
and here we are now.
girl, make a difference
comfort the young ones
respond and rescue
the four-leggeds, the
winged things that
we abandoned.
like phoenix rising from ash,
write, paint, engineer,
love this mangled world
with your whole being
2022 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—they may never turn into anything more or they might flower.
the heart of the matter 
Wow!! This one really hit me hard…”where is our gumption,
our brilliance, spent?” We can ponder that question for eternity, and still not understand our wayward way. BUT, there is still hope, your last line so True, and now hopefully to be tried with all we have…”love this mangled world
with your whole being,” thank you so much for this!!
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Thank you! It means so much that you commented.
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