Nature's Witness Poem by Harlan Simantel

a rock was a witness
to joshua and israel
of all they agreed -
to love and serve the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth

a rock, it's written,
heard what they said

we subdue Nature
and her creatures - too often
insensitive to her feelings
heedless of environmental harm

now mother earth is too warm
the planet feels pain
with humans ignorant
greedy for gain
harvest the oceans
kill all in their nets
toss like garbage dead creatures
back into her depths

bulldoze the appalachians
for coal, fouling streams below
drill for oil in alaska tundra
spoil the unspoiled land
of caribou and polar bear

silently the Creator watches
mother earth in pain
reeling under the strain
God in heaven, have mercy,
act again!