Hibernating Planet

Getting my dark on in ironic free verse

In a simultaneous wave
Death
Fell all mortals to ground
Where they wrote
Where they sang
Where they once ruled in cacophony

Silent

Silence the planet heard
Thundering in a symphony of relief
Songs of fauna
Melodies of flora
Tintabulating water cleansing her wind
Of human

Decomposition

Composing ballads of gaseous ejection
Polluted piles of society rot

Static

Staccato notes snapping in effusion
Atmospheric trilling cries foul!
Spheres of surprise
Crash like cymbals on an unsuspecting Earth
Betrayed by fleeting susurrant respite

Suffocated

Suffering abated in hibernation
To wait
For a new dawn.

2021

Author's Note

"Where did that come from!" I was talking to a friend a few days ago about the film 'Children of Men'. The last human born. Out of the blue my friend said, "what if everybody died at the same time and the gases from the decomposing bodies caused greenhouse effect?" How can I not write a poem about a pleasant thought like that? I'd be remiss in my duties as a poet. Have to turn my card in, which I'm still waiting for in the mail.

Reviews

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

These words may eventually prove to be prophetic as we continue our March toward our own demise. Nature is only willing to sustain us for so long. Eventually like any other contamination she will deal with us in her own way. A very illuminating piece of poetry William, thank you for sharing.

[William Michael Reeves]

Just another prophet writing on the subway wall. Veiled truths

[William Michael Reeves]

Interesting that I was simultaneously reading yours about a similar subject!! Too cool, in the sun of our beautiful fragile planet!

[Ada]

Excellent reminder that pollution is a real problem in today's society and it seems as though we are running out of time to change our ways.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

A very deep and intelligent peace. I too fell very connected to nature and feel the hurt it suffers from human ignorance.

[William Michael Reeves]

Where would we poets be without nature to sing about? Industrial mire and emotional bliss? I suppose we could get by on the bliss. The agony and ecstasy of of our thoughts.

[John the Baptist]

I would not encourage the reading of this one if there are any sharp objects in the vicinity. Ditto sleeping pills. It has the sound of the Black Death on steroids. Mass death occurring rapidly and the resultant putrefaction flattening the pedal on environmental disaster. I would like to get Polly Anna's take on this one.

[William Michael Reeves]

After reading your review I started thinking about Covid having a 20 or 30 percent mortality rate. And the ensuing panic might kill another 20 and the cascade begins. Maybe were not far from it....Earth's relief.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

That new dawn is coming...and it may come without us in it at the rate we are going.
j.

[William Michael Reeves]

Your thought made me think of a book by Robert Silverberg. 'At Winters End' . We may need to do something about it so at least one of us hibernates with our muse.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I love when a crazy notion or phrase grabs hold of me and demands satisfaction.
Those 💡 dance around and will not lie low until placed upon parchment.

[William Michael Reeves]

They pop like popcorn, spillin' out of the kettle. Buttery words and salty metaphors. Yummy!!