Peccavimus
(we have sinned)
The world spins endlessly around
its dying sun in endless space.
Seers and science seek a sign;
are we alone or might we be
mutations of an older race
planted here to serve some grand design
as guardians of a sacred trust.
Peccavimus.
Squatting on our mother Earth
we tear at her fragile skin,
gorging on the precious lode.
The industry that milks her dry
destroys the seed contained within.
Her vital systems now corrode;
we drain her like an incubus.
Peccavimus.
A glutton never forsees want
but hopes the feast will last forever
careless of harm that may accrue
to the infinitely forgiving dam;
but if the umbilical cord should sever
the cycle ends, nothing can renew.
Must everything we made end thus?
Peccavimus.
Peccavimus, we all have sinned,
ignored wisdom for easy gain,
turned each from other to cult of self,
traded with the salesman priest,
bought instant pleasure with future pain,
swapped heritage for short term wealth,
thrown truthless prayers at empty skies.
Earth bleeds. May we yet turn the tide?
The prodigal god humans have made
demands only blind servitude,
turns the child against its mother,
deceives with gifts of gold and glory
the highest among nature's brood
and bids the rape go on forever
'til womb becomes sarcophagus.
Peccavimus.


Comments: 12
First in the list, wow that is Kudos because the word appears in an Edgar Allen Poe poem ( Edgar Allen Poe - Lenore ) and he is somewhat better known than me.
The word was planted in my mind because of that story about General Havelock I told on the authorsden page for this poem - its absolutely true as well. I just decided not to bring it here because we do manage to have intelligent discussions about environmental issues at Gather, at authorsden everybody runs a mile from anything in the least controversial.
Authorsden - Peccavimus
There will be more, Michelle M keeps twisting my arm.
OKOKOK, Wishing next then, a poem on the wannabe lifestyle presented in audio with a great chilled out blues guitar backing from Brother Bastion, aka Dave to his Mum and me)
Thats a wonderful Celtic name, I must bring some verse with a Celtic flavour.
Just remembered, there's a character called Aine in one of my novels, she's a real liberated warrior woman. Aine was the ancient Irish goddess of love and fertility and in later Irish folklore became Queen of Fairies. Quite an illustrious heritage your name has.
Ian, although you are of Celtic ancestry, I had no idea you were THIS green!
"'til womb becomes sarcophagus."
What a beautiful, terrifying vision of an ecological apocalypse.
Green with the word radical running through me in big red letters
Thanks. I try to use phrases that will have meaning in everybodys' lives