as the ocean reclaims the land
and our comfort level with it
we will realize in a collective gasp
we have squandered
centuries of invention, blood, and privilege
with human conceit
.
we have wasted every memory
every idea
every love
by failing the planet
.
we have forgotten to call our mothers
as we were killing each other
over
unknowables
and inflexible
fallible
beliefs
.
don’t go crying to science
science tried to tell us long ago
.
so eat your nachos
and barbecued chemistry lab meats
cheer on your gladiator teams
as they bash their skulls together in a coliseum
enjoy the halftime performers as they twerk and bleat
live stream a diversion
drink your wine and craft beer from sustainable bottles
.
insert artisanal tampons made from the wool of
vegetarian fed sheep
.
file your taxes
.
don’t you look pretty
with thicker, fuller lashes
drop your child off anywhere
so long as you don’t hear their screams
.
pay for neon sex
on the latest smartphone
with that one last good credit card
.
swipe the strip or insert the chip
but do it hard,
consumer culture,
more, baby, more
.
a civilization
blindfolded in agreement
and a few syphilitic mosquitoes
is all the next
mass extinction needs
.