Poetic Expressions

Life is a beautiful symbiosis system, where isolation could lead to extinction. We grow, nurture, and thrive together, interwoven by a providence that transcends our understanding, forming a complex web of unity. Nothing is expendable within the natural order, which constantly seeks balance and harmony.

Nature, the ultimate calibrator, teaches us to respect all life forms. Today, as we confront mass extinctions and worsening climate challenges—consequences of our actions and inactions—we must reflect on our place within the grand tapestry of existence. While we have positioned ourselves at the summit of life's hierarchy, our responsibilities dictate that we ensure the planet remains vibrant for all beings while acknowledging that we, too, are part of its delicate balance.

Water.

Clean water is a fundamental right for all living beings, and there is hope for progress. Many communities are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of pollution and are taking action to protect their vital water sources. As awareness grows, so does the push for stricter environmental regulations and sustainable practices.

In an era where climate change is at the forefront of global discussions, we can harness this momentum to create innovative solutions for water management. Collaboration between affluent nations and vulnerable communities can lead to transformative change, ensuring everyone has access to safe water.

Of glowing seas,
Of rains swirling and dashing.
Of (Aquatic Life) getting those funky, goo-stuck-to-my-eyes blues.
From lye, dye, mercury, ink, an occasional kitchen sink, and odd stuff that stinks.
Of lakes and the secrets they keep,
Of waterfalls serenading lovers,
Of rivers pleading: won’t somebody please make these blues go away?

🐠

🦑

🦀

🦞

Air

Breathing deep, refreshing air is a natural right. However, for many, it's a struggle due to the impact of poor air quality on health. Imagine opening your windows to acrid fumes from factories, choking your lungs, where your zip code determines the air quality. It's essential to recognize that disadvantaged communities suffer because they lack the political and economic influence to determine industrial placement. It's high time we advocate for cleaner air policies!

Air

Of birds soaring,
Of windmills spinning,
Of coals burning,
Of a child blowing bubbles_ high up high,
Of trees blossoming fruits
Of saxophonist serenading lovers.
Of wondrous and sustaining,

Air

Insects are essential for our ecosystems. They help pollinate plants vital for animal and human food production. Insects like bees, butterflies, and beetles support the growth of fruits and vegetables, ensuring we have enough food. They also break down waste, returning nutrients to the soil to help plants grow. By keeping pest populations in check and serving as food for other animals, insects keep nature balanced. It's essential to recognize their role as we work to protect our environment in a changing climate.

If we crawl on you, as you know, we will. It’s not intentional. We either fell from a tree, were trying to navigate to a leaf, or to our home, which you happen to be standing on. Seriously, we’d prefer something green or naturally sweet. (Mosquitoes and some spiders may desire you (ush). However, please refrain from smashing, crushing, grinding, or slapping us. We get into your food, but precautions can prevent that, as we are naturally conditioned for the great outdoors. So, don’t bug out.

Flowers are a colorful and fragrant display, attracting bees and butterflies.

Through the pollination process, they help put food on our tables.
However, in some places, nature is on hold.
Many children grow up surrounded by concrete, with practically no flowers to capture their imagination.

Our political and economic policies must prioritize the integration of flowers in every community.
This is about aesthetics and creating a healthier, more vibrant environment for all.

One handsome butterfly whispered,
"Darling, I need you."

Yet, a charming bee kissed my petal and droned,
"Nature has bestowed you with the fairest of scents."

But the sun beamed,
"You don’t have to choose; love love, them all _ you won’t lose."

Well, the butterfly began to serenade,
"Nectar me, nectar me, oh my dearest."

And then the bee droned even louder,
"Honey, let us pollinate before the sun fades."

But the sun winked,
"If a flower got the tools, nature makes the rules.”

Soil

Healthy soil is Earth's living jacket; however, in concrete jungles, this jacket is often stripped away and replaced by cold, barren landscapes. Environmental equity matters—everyone deserves the opportunity to garden and access healthy food.

🍈

🍇

🍓

🫐

🍒

Dirt, just dirt; being called trash hurts.

Soil is birth life,
Respect us,

When the rain washes away our nutrients.
Replenish us.

When the sun scorches our skin.
Restore us,

We are nature’s cradle.
Protect us.

Trees are superheroes with roots that tell stories of the Earth's health.
However, in underserved communities, these heroes are often missing.
When a tree falls, a champion against pollution and flooding falls.
Trees breathe life into our world.
We must plant trees on every street we can.

I thought your hugs were real.

It felt blissful when you slept on my branch.

But you got hooked on axing—slinging and reckless.

You got hooked on sawing. Swinging and relentless, Crack-crack.

I was your summer shade, flood preventer, oxygen producer, carbon sequestrator, and food provider. Now, bits of me lay strewn upon the forest floor.

You played me the fool.

Silly me, I thought your hugs were real.

🪵

Birds
Nature’s musicians and gardeners, they sky paint the heavens with beauty.

However, city life is harsh on them. Imagine navigating a maze of skyscrapers or finding your way home when the night sky is a blaze of artificial light, then still having to fight some feral cat! The decline in green spaces, such as parks, and the loss of trees directly contribute to the decrease in bird populations. We can all help birds by turning off unnecessary lights and planting trees. We can help birds make our neighborhoods healthier and happier.

Papi and I had a nest with two beautiful babies who joyfully shared their voices with the world.
But woe came a sudden, violent storm.

Like the one that wrecked my cousin’s home.
Now, our nest sits empty, silent, and still.

What shall become of my dear Papi?
And what shall I do with sad-sad me?

Mammals
From tiny mice to giant elephants, mammals play a vital role in Earth’s ecologies. Some help flowers reproduce. Others, like beavers, are nature's architects, shaping the land around them. In the icy north, polar bears are the clean-up crew. But as humans take over more land and the weather warms, many animals struggle to find homes and food. When animals disappear, it's like taking pieces out of a giant puzzle – suddenly, the fit seems haphazard. , Often the people living close to nature feel this loss deeper in their hearts.

Mom

_ I must leave to hunt,
Will my little one manage alone on the Arctic's slippery shore?
There will come a time when she can go with me.
But will there come a time when the Arctic stops warming?

Baby

_ Mama has gone
I long for her return.
Someday, I will go out on my own.
But will there come a time when the Arctic stops warming?

My Brother

And I do not eat every animal in the forest.

However, nature’s symbiotic rhythms designed us to hunt.

But, such is not everyone's truth.

There are those whose self-worth is measured by blood spillage.

And so we howl in gratitude when the moon flashes her neon light:

Men on the prowl.

There’s a bounty on our heads.
There’s a bounty on our hides.
They’re destroying habitats,
They’re burning trees.

If you’re living like me, you’re living scared.

Endangered

In the future, if an advanced species studies our odd actions toward climate change, they’ll see that our attitudes about climate were wrong-headed.
They’ll discover proof that we knew the harm our actions caused but did nothing or refused to change.
They understand how selfishly crazy we were and feel fortunate they never lived with us.
How many now distinct species or near species have that same wish?

They’re polluting the water.
They’re poisoning the air.
There’s a bounty on our wings.
There’s a bounty on our meat.

Come tomorrow, I’m most likely dead.

Extinct

Caspian Tiger

GettyImages-825214330.jpg (Copy) — Tasmanian devil

They’re polluting the water.
They’re poisoning the air.
There’s a bounty on all wings.
There’s a bounty on all meat.

Come tomorrow, I’m most likely dead.

in process

Accessing safe and affordable water has become arduous due to the dominance of powerful corporations over the country's water supply. These corporations have implemented a voucher system to control citizens' access to water, creating concern among social activists like Iona Channel, who participated in water raids against reservoirs. However, her subsequent trial and conviction have sparked a nationwide debate on whether access to water should remain under the control of the powerful or be considered a fundamental human right. To shed more light on the issue, a journalist conducted an enlightening interview with two witnesses holding opposing views, revealing the nation's deep division.
The issue of Coltan, a valuable and adaptable mineral, raises a crucial question: should we continue to rely on it or search for alternatives? While it plays a vital role in powering our electronic devices, it has also gained notoriety for its links to violence, greed, and loss of life. This play focuses on two teenage girls, one from a privileged American family shielded from the hardships of the less fortunate, and the other a Congolese girl who works in harsh conditions to mine Coltan and provide for her family. Through their conversations, we witness how Coltan impacts their daily lives and the significance of managing its extraction to prevent further harm.

When I wrote "Nkati: A Flower’s Adventure in a Changing Climate," there were certain areas that I did not focus on in a children’s book:

1. Environmental racism

2. The Indigenous leadership in the environmental movement throughout the Americas

3. Climate as the last 'natural frontier' of world society

While these points are broad in scope and are being examined by artists, scholars, academics, and social scientists, I am addressing them in the play adaptation of Nkati and the play Coltan.
This play explores the impact of conflict minerals on the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on women and children, and Iona, a play concerning water rights. The world society must understand that addressing our climate concerns is crucial. Given our increasing climate challenges, other problems will only be solved if we unite around this issue. Water, race, land, and population movements, to name a few. These issues are directly connected to this fundamental truth: we must change our hierarchical approach to our place on this earth.