Gaia Exposed

by cassie hughes   Apr 30, 2016


Beneath our feet her heart's core pulses,
shaping time itself around each tiny beat of life.
The acorn sprouts,
the bulbs set forth their questing shoots to find the sunshine.
Drinking in each ray with thirsty need,
their greed outweighing
forms so slender as to bend or break if tousled by a breezes softest kiss.

She nurtures all.

And in her mother's love we each lay blessed.
As mountains rise to tower over valleys filled with floral sculpture,
life takes wing with songs to echo through the seasons,
meant to fill even the coldest hearts with joy.

If only we could see her pain.

As with each passing year her assets stripped and bared
by all consuming greed we bleed her dry.

Raped.

Despoiled.

Her bubbling streams of tears becoming
torrents in a hopeless bid to wash away the grief and shame.

She was our world.

Yet in the rush of life it seems that she has been forgot,
And soon her vital heart will cool and harden,
leaving just a barren star to hang suspended and unwanted
in the galaxy with all our broken dreams.

Written for Maple Tree's Earth Day challenge.

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Latest Comments

  • 9 years ago

    by Dagmar Wilson

    This is one breathtaking write. Add to my favorite. Take care

    • 9 years ago

      by cassie hughes

      Thanks for the lovely comments Dagmar and for adding it to your favourites :)

  • 9 years ago

    by Ben Pickard

    Hello Cassie

    This is wonderful and fully deserved then notice it got in Andrea's challenge.
    What struck me most in this poem is the use of the word 'raped' . The word has such dreadful connotations and so to apply it to what's happening to the earth is a very clever stroke from you.

    Take care and all the best
    Ben

    • 9 years ago

      by cassie hughes

      Thanks Ben. Glad you liked it.
      Hope you are well.
      Cassie

  • 9 years ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    Hello Cassie,

    This poem is stunning - I must admit I had to research the word 'Gaia' as I had no idea what it meant: 'The Gaia hypothesis, also known as Gaia theory or Gaia principle, proposes that organisms interact with their inorganic surroundings on Earth to form a synergistic self-regulating, complex system that helps to maintain and perpetuate the conditions for life on the planet.'
    ^
    good ole Wikipedia - lol

    I am glad I did though because it made your poem make more sense. The fact that inorganic and organic interact and are in fact in equilibrium. The idea that mother nature has seen this balance become toppled and mankind harm what is good. She is rightly upset, her tears 'bubble' in streams as she sees mankind 'rape and despoil' all her hard work.

    The ending statement is a warning - if we do nothing then all that will be left of this beautiful planet is a scar.

    Powerful stuff here.

    Well done,

    Michael

    • 9 years ago

      by cassie hughes

      Thanks Michael. I'm glad you liked it.

      Its nice to know you learned something new from one of my pieces but did you also know that Gaia (or Gaea)was also the personification of the earth in Greek Mythology? I tried my best to integrate the two in this.

  • 9 years ago

    by Maple Tree

    Cassie, you had me
    At Gaia, breathtaking piece
    Mystical beauty.

    Hugs, from Maple Tree

    • 9 years ago

      by cassie hughes

      Thanks so much Andrea. I'm glad you liked it.

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