Gaia and I are old acquaintances. Since college, I've been thinking of our world and the vulnerability of those who call it home. I believe that our beautiful earth will last until our sun begins to die and become a red giant, but we will not. We are poor custodians of this precious gift. With the acceleration of climate change, the damage is more extreme. The warnings are more dire. The time for humans to change course and heal our planet is rapidly shortening. All these thoughts prompted me to write the poem 'Ode to Gaia' and create the artwork of the same name.
ODE to GAIA
In sorrow do I beseech you
We have used you so poorly for your priceless gifts. We tread upon your bones & flesh, leaving behind a trail of trash. We pour our wastes into your waters. We decimate your children of the sea. We burn & cut – harvest & squander the living things that breathe for us. We spew our filth into the ether, destroying its Infinite parts. We slaughter your children who are different, strange, beautiful, fierce, unknown. And Your children who serve us, feed us, comfort and amuse us
these we slaughter, too.
Oh Mother Gaia
do I Beseech you
Pray for us.
- Subject Matter: Language
- Collections: Abstract, with Encaustics