|
|
After After
With remnants of mankind’s existence corroding
His lighting extinguished, his concrete eroding
The birds and the beasts have reconquered his space
Those same birds and beasts have forgotten his face
The forests, once dwindled, have burgeoned once more
Oak, elm and ash rupture old asphalt floor
Long vacant dwellings, now caves, dens and lairs
For ground dwelling mammals while bats live upstairs
The rivers all sparkle, their waters so clear
And large rusting pipes discharge nothing to fear
Waves tickle beaches, the breeze is their breath
With no evil lurking at periscope depth
Life springs abundant by land, sea and sky
Unhindered by species who weren’t meant to fly
Trees brightly clad in gold, russet and green
Alas, man cannot see how things could have been
And so all seems well but there’s still need of prayer
There’s horror to come from a long way… up there
This world, free at last, of man’s lethal know how
Could sure use a serving of man’s knowledge now
Unserviced and rusting, the launchers stand bare
No human stands ready; no missile sits there
Mankind had known that the space rock would come
And man would have nuked it… but he’s gone: Ho hum!
Copyright ©
Terry Flood
|
|