What Used To Be Poem by T.J. Daniels

Some people actually think
but just thinking
doesn't do much.

Some of us think about the environment
and how to save it
while others think about how to make more money.

I've thought about the environment
for over sixty years and have seen it go
from bad to polluted.

The lumberjack
thinks about finding more trees to cut down.

But what does he do
when all of the trees are gone?

Some day
you'll have to go to the 'tree museum'
just to see one.

The whaler is on the prowl
to find more whales to harpoon to take to market.

The fisherman sails the oceans
to find more fish.

When all of the whales and fishes are gone
maybe they can take us on pleasure cruises.

And the rest of us don't really care
as long as the tap water tastes good.

Some people don't even trust the tap
that's why they drink bottled water.

Some people believe
we were promised a rose garden
but they're destroying all the roses!

We should all be thankful
that there are zoos
aquariums and museums
so that we can see
what used to be.


(2004)