What Lasts

In the chaos
constructed by human connivance,
greed, and blinkered self-deception,

I look to the trees
rising, indifferent
to human madness,
slow-reaching skyward,
slow-flowing sap to nourish
each twig and leaf
and tiny single cell…

I look to the seas
rolling on and on,
uncaring of Man’s designs,
against the sands, the cliffs,
or flinging wildly
partnering with rocky shores
to dance, force meeting gravity,
to graze the air and slowly fall…

I look to the skies
deep endless blue darkening
into airless infinity,
and a world of water vapors:
fields of grey, fleecy bundles,
towers mounding high.
anvils advancing without mercy
full of storm…

So many trees are broken
seas and airs polluted,
all the world is tainted
by the carelessness of man
unconsciously intent
on self-negation…

The Earth…

The trees…

The seas…

The skies…

will remain, recover
self-repairing
when Man has gone
or finally grown wise.

_{CL Redding 2025}