CHECKMATE

A poem inspired by my STALEMATE series for National Poetry Month

Image: Elisabeth Jurenka via Unsplash+

This poem was written for the ongoing National Poetry Month Challenge hosted by

V. Walker | Poet

.

For April 3rd, the challenge was to spin an online wheel and then write a poem about the topic it landed on.

My topic was Climate Change.

Those who have been following me for a while may recall STALEMATE, which was a 3-part science fiction series I wrote with elements of climate change.

This poem is inspired by that series as well.

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CHECKMATE

It’s easy to see where this is going. 
The signs are evident all around. 
You act as if you are falling,
but you stand on solid ground. 

Your science has told you, 
what you’re too blind to see. 
This you’re only home, 
and you are killing me. 

You locked me deep, 
In a vault of your design, 
I cried as the planet wept. 
You ignored every sign. 

You cut me open and watch, 
As I bleed through open sores. 
All for the sake of progress, 
for you, and for yours? 

What about the future? 
Can you see past your time? 
To those who will have to suffer,
the punishment for your crime? 

You can’t, and you won’t. 
You are selfish and blind. 
Fighting amongst each other,
when you should have been kind. 

Petrovia and Anduvia. 
Two sides of one battle. 
Fighting for control of Gaia, 
as you march to the slaughter like cattle. 

So here I am; Gaia is yours. 
Your fighting has ceased.
Yet the war rages on and on, 
as the planet's wounds increase. 

Gaia will defend herself. 
This is her life and her fight.
You will step aside or repent, 
and you know which is right. 

Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing

Listen to this after reading. Like pairing a glass of wine with dinner.