Earth Day 2009 Poems

One Earth, An Earth Day Poem

There are those who say
"why commemorate Earth Day?
going green's the butt of jokes
global warming's but a hoax!"

for 8 years their muscles flexin'
as they toasted the Toxic Texan
but their smile turned to a frown
as a new Sheriff came to town

so before going merrily on your way
remember there's a price to pay
for not realizing the planet's worth
after all, there's just one Earth

An Earth Day Poem (Limerick): Baked Alaska

Don't recycle, just trash things naysayers boast
let's build more landfills from east to west coast
like members of the Flat Earth Society
global warming deniers in their piety
say drill, baby, drill as the rest of us roast

Earth Day Poem (Limerick #2): Get Your Kicks With A Petroleum Fix

The scoffers say the Earth itself will fix
so just keep on drilling and getting our kicks
they're brainwashed since their birth
to keep plundering Mother Earth
if you disagree they'll call you heretics

I hope you got a chuckle or two from these Earth Day poems. The whole point to celebrating Earth Day, in my opinion, is not to worship the Earth as many of the so-called "religious right" claim, but to celebrate God's creation.

If someone wants to exercise their right not to believe and just celebrate our planet and all it's wonders, so be it. We don't have to agree on that, just as we don't have to agree on theology to both celebrate the 4th of July.

We have only one planet to inhabit, at least for now. The Christians who deride Earth Day and global warming are missing the point. Even if we are in the last days, God is not on the same time table as we, so "last days" could be another century or more.

The philosopher George Santayana said that "those who don't remember history are condemned to repeat it". So it is with the global warming/climate change deniers. Centuries ago, scientists or anyone who believed the Earth was round were called "heretics" by the "religious right" of their time.

The Flat Earth believers claimed Christopher Columbus would sail off the edge of the Earth's surface on his journey to find the "New World". Even though Columbus thought he had found India, we know how that turned out.

So please don't listen as some urge the public not to worry about recycling, depositing electronic waste in landfills or drilling for oil in every conceivable place.

Here's one last Earth Day poem for your reading pleasure.

Earth Day Poem (Limerick): If it's good for Halliburton

The Dick Cheneys of the world say to please
God, we must drill for oil on all seven seas
if it's good for Halliburton
to hell with those who are hurtin'
and when we're done let's cut down all the trees