Mother Earth by Ilana Drake

i once learned how

to count the years

a tree has stood 

in its spot because

of its rings 

we have watched the

earth crack,

plate tectonic theories

coming to reality,

our reality,

because we found

a need to find 

refuge 

& we see the 

ways in which 

unequal divisions

become clear 

because the

diamond-water

paradox taught

in school does 

not teach how 

the water supply

is limited & 

pollutants are

embedded in 

its particles

we say that

we know the

impacts on 

women because

the words 

“climate crisis”

are embedded 

in the air filled

with pollutants,

but we do not

attribute the 

cause of 

malnutrition & 

poor health

to this ever-

growing problem

how can we 

keep endangered

animals protected

& ensure that 

we can have 

future generations

reside on this 

land, our land?

my eyes shut 

tightly on june

30th because

the Supreme 

Court, the 

highest court, 

pushed our

work under

the ground 

we are buried

& are still alive

because these 

protests & words

& our actions will

cause a ripple

& ripples together

move us forward.