Death has no Future

This poem was written after the Copenhagen talks failed. The debates and the comments were an eye-opener. They told me that nothing is going to change as the rich nations will never let go the advantage history has bestowed on them. The poorer nations, however hoarse their collective voices become, will not get their due. In the bargain, environment is the ultimate looser. Mother earth has been blatantly betrayed.

 

The haggling goes on unabated.

Their posturing, a pain in the neck.

They fooling us with their chinwag

As they discuss our common future.

Are we being pointlessly towed

From Kyoto to Copenhagen

To witness the power struggle

Between the rich and the poor?

“Warmth in winter,

Wintry in summer,

Who questions this birthright?”

“Meat for the masses

Grain for the cattle,

Hungry? Curse history!”

“Don’t develop so fast-

You have no right to do that!

We’ll give you what’s left,

Have you no patience?”

“Pay for your sins!”

“Will 400 do?

Cut the emissions!

And then, we will pay you 10!”

“Sacrifice! Be Austere!

What goes up has to come down,

That is Mother Nature’s secret

Well exploited for progress.”

“Out of the way, old nations

Your creaking knees no match

To the surging youth of the young.

Make way, feign thence abnegator.”

2012 is true; I feel it in my bones,

The sizzling and the heaving,

The melting and the drowning,

Our future orchestrated by us.

Frightening, unnerving, rebarbative

I am ready, I have changed to CFL

I eat less, burn less, gone organic.

Anyway! Death doesn’t scare me

Since it has no future.

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

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