1870 - Vox planetae

 

Image: scavenged from the internet and modified with PhotoShop.

The Sunday Whirl presented these twelve words for us to use in a creative writing piece.  

jaw debris stitch slather voices beasts tides salty vault edges silver tilt

I didn't use all of them in the end.

Poets and Storytellers had the prompt to work with the Terry Pratchett quote: 

“There was a light at the end of the tunnel, and it was a flamethrower.”  

I drew inspiration from it without a direct reference.

Vox planetae

[Homo sapiens, triumphant] 

We are supreme, we rule this earthly place!

We run the shop; there is no escape,

We tame the beasts and control the space.

[Planet, quietly] 

Don’t bet on that, you arrogant hairless ape.

[Homo sapiens]

We sit proud atop the world's food chain

We mine the land and sieve the salty seas!

Nothing can stop our onward racing train!

[Planet, quietly] 

They think they can just do as they please,

Give me time, and the scales will tilt my way.

My time frame is longer than theirs—

All their neglect will create bills to pay.

[Homo sapiens, defiant]

We are the apex animal, we have no cares.

We consume at will, with mountains of debris—

We fill our vaults with precious cash

And happily parade about for all to see.

[Planet, quietly] 

Their house of cards will fall and burn to ash

And their tears will be both copious and salty.

[Homo sapiens]

Those who doubt our reign are off the mark

Their thinking ranks both crude and faulty

[Planet, quietly] 

They think planet governance is a walk in the park

Yes, tides will flow — yet rise and rise still higher.

They have been forewarned what the futures hold

But are blindly jumping into the fire.

Of what use then is their silver and gold?

[Homo sapiens]

Our onward progression has no edges!

[Planet, quietly]

You will one day learn that this is not so.

[Homo sapiens]

There is no proof—science just alleges

That they know the final way we’ll go.

[Planet, quietly]

I have endured far worse than you before;

Your reign is brief against my tidal span.

You tilt the scales — but I reset the score.

Time is my ally. Time unmakes your plan.

[Homo sapiens]

(laughter and dancing)

[Planet]

...

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