the end of the world started at the beginning of civilization 

it’s been thousands of years of the world dying in our hands

and we have done nothing to stop it.

refusing to take responsibility, we point fingers at every possible scientifically unproven alternative fact before ever considering

maybe it’s been us

all along.

dear earth,

i am so sorry

we are no more your children than are the star magnolia trees, honey bees, and orca whales

all of which we have massacred by the millions.

we haven’t stopped.

dear earth,

“sorry” doesn’t cut it anymore

i know

i have felt your tension beneath my toes

knee-high in snow in the middle of april

skin cancer summers, we are not burning as much as you are

preparation for spring floods because we know you will cry for us more than we will for you.

mother earth

i think we’re both wondering

when will we love you back?