Rebirth of Privilege
Welcome the nuclear winter
that shall cleanse
the earth, leave it open
to some stellar seed
searching for a new home
on which to flourish. This cancer
of our own creation, destroyer
of all creation, and our legacy
of privilege taken to extreme,
cannot expire too soon.
Let the rebirth begin.
This response to dVerse Poetics: On Privilege – to write on any of the various aspects of privilege – this poem was inspired by The Case for Reparations, a response by Brendan at Oran’s Well.
Image source: nytimes.com – Nuclear Winter (video)
rivrvlogr 
A rather bleak acceptance?
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Or a bleak alternative if we do so.
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Of course we are not the only species on the planet; merely the only self-destructive one.
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It seems we’re headed that way.
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That way or many of the alternatives, from floating islands of plastic waste to “what global warming?” to walls likely to cause loss of natural habitat and natural environment.
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Yes. . .
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Wonderful poetry and message Rivr. I believe if we are not able to clean up this mess, Earth will continue without us, as you so perfectly express…a rebirth. Thank you Rivr.
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Thank you, Holly. In some regards, the point of no return is long past, but that shouldn’t mean giving up.
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Sobering. All too probable. Too many humans – all contributing to some degree – all in this together. The saddest to me is that we refuse to work together for our collective benefit (endurance).
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Fun, yes, we privilege human life far to much albeit naturally. What, 40% of insect species will be extinct by 2050. Loss of one hominids species may not be so bad. And as you say, let it all begin again. Life, is not in danger.
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It would be sad to think that mankind is the apex of our planets evolution.
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From all that we have done to our environment, it is indeed abusing the privilege of having this bounty of nature. “Let the rebirth begin” is such a powerful chant.
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Thank you.
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this is a powerful and well crafted…..yes we have abused our privilege….of course, it would be nice to think that the destruction could be reversed without an apocalypse. JIM
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If only.
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And thank you.
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Let the rebirth begin.YES. This reads my prayer for mother earth.
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😀
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Evocative, Ken!
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Merci! 🙂
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Pas de quoi
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Ken, it is frightening what is and has been happening. Being a hopeful – rightly or wrongly – I am very cheered on hearing of big positive projects undertaken by a number of nations. There are already a number who use
100% clean fuel, plantation of huge forests is underway and oceans are big on the agenda.
Re-cycling proper is big in many countries. Not only shipping it away.
In the dark there is shafts of light….
miriam
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The more who see the light, the better.
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Perhaps the reason why we’re doomed, utterly, is due to the very privilege which convinced humans ages ago that they were separate and overlord. We’ll chant that dominance right into the world’s grave. And the bland acquiescence of optimism is becoming an opiate – privilege as fentanyl. Amen.
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The world as subject of – and to – man’s whims.
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If we do not heed the warnings now and act decisively en mass then yes. But those with most privilege will outlast others. The need for climate justice is tied up with racial justice, gender justice and more equity around ability as well as continued mass extinction of species that are not culpable as we are. I fear we will not heed the warnings and am glad the Earth will renew if we do not. So, I cannot accept yet while we have oh so limited time to change… Like the poem though!
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Thank you. It comes down to heeding awareness.
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Agreed!
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A message all should heed! Well written.
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Thanks!
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My pleasure!
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The privilege to multiply and fill the earth is also our doom
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Yep!
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Chilling, but apt. (K)
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Yes. Sigh.
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BRAVO!!!
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Thank you, Peter!
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i like that total wipe out and a new seed germinating on a clean new world, so much sadness and badness will go away with that too,
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Like a two-sided coin. Sad at loss, yet turned over for good.
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Powerful – a possible future. Still hoping it’s not too late…..
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Thank you, Betty. Hope is what keeps us going.
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