River

Shall we cry you a river

  with the tears of our angst

    over our continued refusal

      to put Mother Earth

      and her life-blood

    on equal footing

  with exploitative

economic enterprises?

The collective lament

  of those who recognize

    our systemic rape

    and plunder of creation

  cannot restore,and may not

ameliorate this abuse,

but cheek’s glistening trail

  can remind us all

    of the universe's plaintive call

  to tread gently, leaving

ego, fear, and greed behind,

thinking long-range,

  recognizing and living

    our interdependence.

  Will it be enough?

Will we listen?

© 2016 Todd Jenkins