Are We Turning Earth-Unfriendly Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

Are We Turning Earth-Unfriendly



Are we turning earth-unfriendly or
Have we become one already

April 22 World Earth Day
April 25 Nepal Earthquake Day
Leaving thousands dead
Similar number injured
Lakhs stranded and
Millions rendered homeless
It pains the entire humanity
And all are attempting to restore
The damaged Nepal

Science explained many things
And it knows that the quake is the
Resultant adjustment the mother earth
Makes on her surface
Sequel to an imbalance down under
Far deep within the crust

We know how to measure it
We also know the safe limit of the quake
Below which the damages are less and manageable

But we are yet to develop a device
That would predict earthquake advance enough
So that loss of lives, if not loss of property
Could be prevented

World Earth Day we celebrate, nay, we should observe
With a commitment not to do anything
On the surface of the earth
That would change the natural topography
Drainage pattern and other similar
Surface characteristics of the earth

The recent massive earthquake
And attendant aftershocks should make us
Review our commitment towards earth-care

We need to renew our determination
That we would also not do anything
That has a potential to create
Mass imbalance beneath the earth’s surface

We talk a lot
We write a lot
But did the least
In reducing consumption of unearthed
Natural non-renewable resources

May be that these massive
Unearthing and mining
Trigger mass imbalance beneath

Let our scientists examine this
And do something, if not to prevent,
To reduce the extent of quake-driven damages

Time now to question ourselves
Are we turning earth-unfriendly
Despite our 'celebrating'
World Earth Day

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