Countdown

I never thought the world would end in my lifetime.

I never thought the skies would darken with fire and ash, the waters dry up or flood the lands, polluted with chemicals, plastic, and dying beasts.

I never thought the poles would melt; the shorelines disappear, the earth would quake itself into giant cracks and fissures or open gaping sinkholes swallowing cars and houses whole.

I never thought we’d stand by, drowning in conspicuous consumption, greed, disposables, and more and more new stuff while marine life choked on plastics and fish and birds are poisoned by drug and chemical run-off.
I never thought we’d murder the bees.

I never thought the people would cheer a return to lawlessness, misogyny, racial hatred and oppression, virulent antisemitism, class warfare, embracing the repudiation of science, forced common religion, denigration of education and the Arts, and denial of rationality and reason.

I never thought the world would burn; ignited by hatred, invective, and intolerance; fed by greed, desire, and narcissism, drunk on empire, power and derision.

I never thought life as we knew it would crumble around us, murdered by self-interest and disinterest.

I never thought I would be afraid humanity’s death knell would happen before my eyes; I thought we’d learned.

Ronda R. Scott-Marak
© 24 August 2019