Day 22 - One More For You

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Google says it's Earth Day, so it must be true.

I saw a Tweet from Beth Rhodes asking what we (or me, for this blog post) did to protect the Earth.

Earth Day. My husband is a huge supporter of preserving Nature, protecting the Earth. I don't know why it... https://t.co/4DEbTVrJ5Y

— Beth Rhodes (@BethRhodes99) April 22, 2016

It brought back some memories. I "participated" in the first Earth Day. Yes, I'm old enough to have done that. In fact, I'd been around for a few years prior to that (April 22, 1970). Our school had a big to-do about it, and us kids, we didn't have a clue what was going on. I still don't have a clue about much of anything to this day—at least that's what most folks will tell you. It's something I'm good at.

What did we do? They had the police block the road with a patrol car while we all weeded dandelions from the edge of the road. Tied up traffic for some time. All those V-8 engines idling away burning leaded gas. I'm sure that helped save the world...

Allow me to pause for a brief wheeze.

I grew up spending every moment in the woods, or by the water, or both. I get good feeling when I'm in a natural environment, and that's becoming increasingly difficult to find in the Mid-Atlantic area. Of course, many kids spent time outdoors in the woods or fields when I was young. I don't see that interest in the younger folks these days, but I don't want to generalize too much. I haven't done any research into this that would stand up to scientific scrutiny. But when I go on hikes with local groups, it looks like we all came out of a retirement (nursing?) home. Just an observation.

I hear a lot of people are into recycling. That's nice as far as it goes, but it's probably better to buy/create things that don't need to be recycled so often, things that last longer before that recycling process has to start, or can be repaired. Recycling takes time and energy. Like some electronic devices that get shipped half-way around the world to a facility that handles them (and often in a not very environmentally friendly fashion). Do you really need that latest (fill in this part with the name of your latest gadget/item), or do you just want it? If you don't buy it, it doesn't need to be recycled. Take a moment to think about what you want and what you really need. That might protect the environment as much as anything, and it will certainly protect your wallet.

There are a lot of little things you can do if you want to make a difference. Right now I'm wearing pants (or trousers, if you're in the United Kingdom) that are made (partly) from recycled polyester. I know that sounds a little disgusting and perhaps a bit weird, but if they can stand up to the abuse my fat backside inflicts, they can't be all bad. And it might save a little bit of oil. Okay, with the size of my backside, a lot of oil.

I also like to garden, grow some of my own food, and I've done my share of composting when in a situation to do so. I'm not sure how much it helps the Earth, but it helps my mental state.

Just one more item - I really don't like the new plastic egg cartons. While they are easily recycled, they don't protect the eggs as well as the old paper ones. It doesn't help anyone if the product isn't as good. The paper ones could be recycled just as easily. They could even be composted. I want my paper egg cartons back. Or else.

Anyway, enough of the soap box, here's today's poem*. Then I'll go back and republish yesterday's poem when I get a chance. Had to edit it. That's what I get for trying to do all these poems in between working overtime, or on the train commuting. This has been a busy month (or three).

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The Other World

Between the patches of trash-strewn ground,
Away from the walls of graffiti,
Are bits of the Earth that somehow survive
In an alternate-world reality.

Hidden by scrapyards
Stacked high with remains
Of yesterdays treasures
Now in disdain

There still is a place
Where a trout-lily blooms
And irises show off
Their tall purple plumes,

Where birds fly above
The tops of the trees
And dragonflies flash
Their blues and their greens.

Yes, this is where
I've been spending my day,
Though if anyone asks
I'd rather not say.

For if others discover
This wondrous display
They'd enjoy it so much
It would all go away.


                      K.R. Smith

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*I'm trying to write a poem each day for National Poetry Month. It's difficult to come up with original titles (that are interesting) for each post. I chose silly instead.

 Here are the links to the poems so far:

   Day 1 National Poetry Month - Kick-off (National Poetry Month)
   Day 2 Haiku, For You (Haiku)
   Day 3 A Poem For Free (The Good Morning Man)
   Day 4 Wait, There's Even More (Monday)
   Day 5 I'm Still Alive (TMI)
   Day 6 I'm Resorting To Tricks (A Walk Through Kipling's Wood)
   Day 7 It Almost Like Poetry Heaven (Metal Monsters)
   Day 8 I've Got A Lot On My Plate (The Ides Of April)
   Day 9 Another Poem Would Be Fine (Storm Spirit)
   Day 10 I'm At It Again (What A Tree Is Not)
   Day 11 Yes, Number Eleven (A U-Turn For The Worse)
   Day 12 I Feel Like One Of Santa's Elves (Avoiding The Plague Like The Plague)
   Day 13 By The Poetry Machine (Sounds Of A Spring Night)
   Day 14 Rhymes With Thirteen (Bluebells)
   Day 15 I'm Just Being Mean (No Poem Today)
   Day 16 And I'm Full Of Beans (Steel Circles)
   Day 17 I'm Getting The Hang Of This Routine (Of All Things)
   Day 18 As Words Careen (Swamped)
   Day 19 The Last Teen You'll Be Seein' (Haiku)
   Day 20 Poems? I've Got Plenty! (Sleeping On The Train)
   Day 21 A Poem For Fun (Drunk On Blogger)

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