Earth Day Poem - the Creek

A world meandering
Through the backyard
Universe of nettles.

This living,
Breathing
Microcosmic universe.

The creeks orbit,
Streaming, winding,
Forging through it.

Dragonfly comets
Racing around
This teeming world.

A heron,
Like clock work, arriving
Each spring.

For generations
A blue beacon amongst
Painted turtles.

Or, the ancient snapper
Ornery, stubborn,
Reliable.

As a child
The creek seethed with
Whirling schools of minnows.

Croaking frogs,
So plenteous
On the muddy banks.

Each step triggering
Domino bloops
In the clear green current.

Peacefully energetic
The frog, the heron,
The timeless child.

But, in a hushed,
Whispered, breathe
They vanished.

The creek giving,
Giving, giving out
Like Silverstein's tree.

Offering itself
To innumerable child
Only to be stripped

Baron as a Martian world,
A remnant
Devoid of life.

Pocked with drains
Spilling detergents,
And ChemLawn run off.

Creaking along
Eeking out an existence
Without purpose.

Though, there are
Those who would say
It has a new purpose

Words
Echoed through the ages
Like a cracking whip.

An inescapable
Circle of necessary
Change.

But, isn't change simply
Repetition of the same
In a new time?