Posts Tagged ‘Greenhouse effect’

Irreversible Change

June 3, 2013

—∞—

I’m thinking about the story
A man and a woman
And an apple
Was that a tale of our beginning
Or of our end?

—∞—

Down by the lake
On the shore
By the lake
Lies a pebble
One of millions, actually
 
Rounded
Smoothed
Deposited
By a glacier
Long, long ago
 
Where was it yesterday?
There or nearby?
Moved maybe
By a wind-blown wave
Or a passing boat’s wake
 
If it was moved
An irreversible change
To the entire universe
Took place
Tiny, but irreversible
 
What about us?
What are we doing?
How’s our piece,
Our allotted portion
Of the universe, doing?
 
Irreversible change
I’m thinking about sunlight
Stored sunlight, stored energy
As in an apple
As in coal, gas, oil
 
Why is the oil there?
The coal?
The gas?
Is it for us?
If so, to do what?
 
Are these tangible things,
These stored solar energies,
Here for our good?
Or are they the forbidden fruit
An apple … a poisoned apple
 
Perhaps that mythical tale
Two people and an apple
Is a story of our end, not of our beginning
A story about hubris and selfishness now
Rather than providing for those who follow
 
One bite or too many
Perhaps
An abdication of our stewardship?
Our misunderstanding of dominion?
A failure to faithfully respond?

© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins