To the children of the world,
To a Child of the Anthropocene
Winds will blow harder and longer, My Little One
Waves will reach farther and deeper, My Precious One
Can you learn to be stronger
Than I ever needed to be?
Trees and the birds are now leaving us, Little One
Flowers recede before asphalt, Precious One
Natural beauty once pleasing us
Is now hidden from view
I fear that Prosperity’s pleasures
My own abundance and plentitude such as I knew
Will be harder for you to inherit
Oh were it not true!
Do not spare us your judgment, ever, My Little One
Render such verdict upon us that we deserve.
But perhaps, my Precious One,
As you become far more adaptive and clever,
Wisdom will come to you earlier
As you seek out a style of life that will see us thru
And we in our old age will gladly sit down
To begin learning from you