Burning Question Poem by Mary Champion

What is this?

How has it come to be
when no one ever wanted it,
when no one strove to achieve it?

Do we have free-will
or are we free of will?

Why are our plans and schemes
so often thwarted by the unforeseen,
the unimagined?

Are we mere pawns -
puppets on invisible strings
with delusions of agency?

What is Man that He has come to this? -
Stranded on a dying planet,
without realistic hope of rescue,
knowing he knows too much to pretend it isn't happening
but not enough to prevent catastrophe.