Nothing Stays The Same

An effort to poetize some Earthly changes as described in Michael Crichton's great book "State Of Fear'

…Nothing Stays the Same…

Five billion years of age has our planet

And it has changed each and every year.

Atmospheres have enveloped the Earth

And three times…have disappeared.

…changes…!

First came Helium and Hydrogen

Then came Volcanic steam and Carbon Dioxide 

Which lingered awhile and then condensed

Into rains that fell worldwide

…more changes…!

Oceans, oceans! Endless seas!

Water, water Everywhere!

H2O is all to see

There’s naught but water there

…Then changes cold and drear...

Two billion years ago came the cold…

With a world wide Winter Wrap

Advancing, retreating, meek, then bold

Slow motion, sub zero trap

…More changes still…

We are living now in a glacial recession

Which happens every twenty thousand years (or so)

But nothing will stop this Wintry progression

At the very best, perhaps it might slow

…And the changes will keep coming!...

For our planet is a living thing

A being that evolves and thrives

On silence and violence: It can grumble…it can sing

But it cares not (and knows not) of mere human lives

…A short list of ongoing changes…

At least one volcanic eruption every two weeks…

Millions of earthquakes that quake without stop…

Tsunamis every three months…

Eleven lightning bolts striking the Earth (every second!)

Tornadoes rampaging every six hours…

Giant Cyclones every four days…

…Can we truly change any of this?...

Not one iota! 

All one can do is endure and abide

For when the Earth decides to change

…There’s no place to hide….

Disclaimer: Data liberally taken from Michael Crichton’s book ‘State Of Fear’

And (I hope) put in a semi-poetic form.