Trying to tackle this month's theme 'Biodiversity' with a poem that I had written and shared few years ago- rather than an essay, with the idea to leave a more lasting impact.

Live and Let Live

 

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKK!!!

I jumped out of my skin

at the eerie shriek.

My heart and I both raced

daylight scared out of me

Where is the inferno?

What could it be?

 

I halted in my tracks

as I encountered Mom

Yet, hard as I looked

I couldn't find the storm.

Eyes wild with fear,

her expression a haze

Scanning the kitchen

 I followed her gaze.

 

Perched on the table

her stance was tense,

Refusing to acknowledge

my petty presence.

Not a flaming Torch,

holding an upraised broom

Somewhat frozen

Statue of Liberty in doom

 

Glassy eyes unfocused

ever slowly she turned

As I tried to figure out

what it was that burned?

A long, black, coily tail

vanished behind the bin

Gosh! It was a mouse

that caused this din!

And then with a huff

her trance snapped

Waving a metallic trap

Mom deftly danced.

A weenie piece of bread

with cheese set as bait

She continued her chores-

In a dilemma I had to wait

 

I asked why could we not 

just leave it- Alone

After all, besides that it lived

no harm was done.

She glared at me

like I was out of my mind

"It's vermin," she yelled

"not a situation to be kind."

 

Mom was scared-

and the mouse more so

We had our cozy home

but where was it to go.

What was once its habitat

our city stood there now

We had razed its home.

She never saw that though.

 

That coily tail choked me

As much as I fought

Back in my airy room

I delved and I thought-

Pure air we breathe,

Greenery that sustains all

Thoughtlessly we uproot it

to build a home and a mall

 

Creatures around us

Every plant or tree

All need their own space

as much as you and me.

Step into their shoes

and you'll be scared to see

Danger lurking in corners,

threats behind every tree.

 

Pollution and litter

the bad culprits lowly

Habitat destruction

killing the nature slowly.

Predators and disease

never seem to tire.

Climate Change then

adds more fuel to fire

 

Overexploitation as food

and pet trade too

Can animals be safe

only in the zoo?

UV Radiation, chemical waste

causing further worries

Some species may exist

only in old stories.

 

For our biodiversity

as vital as me and you

If they were to vanish,

very soon we will go too.

Global diversity decline

a gory grave concern

Our flora and fauna

are fading into oblivion.

 

The list is way too long

screaming for attention

And more so because

we created the sorry situation

Nature provides enough

to satisfy every human need

Yet humanity could not curb

her power-lust and greed.

 

Is it all over then?

Do we prepare for doom?

Or can we somehow avert

an impending global gloom?

Our past pleads with us

the future demands

How we hold the present

a question in our hands.

 

Across each fluffy cloud

within every drop of rain

Written large and bold

on every golden grain

The answer stares at us

from within and all around

That we must adapt

to live within our bounds

 

Nature has just one law

'Live and Let Live'

We must not take it all

but also learn to give.

We should, we can,

we must and we will

Save our Biodiversity,

for there's time still!