Weren’t we supposed to be
living on Venus by now, or the moon—
everything enclosed, climate-controlled,
rational? Wasn’t I supposed to be wearing
something in neoprene, high-collared
(though tight across my breasts), having
scientific, yet sex-infused discussions
with men? (We would address each other
as “Dr. So-and-So,” reverting to first names
in moments of passion, high tension. What
happened to that plan?) Where are the pellets,
the ones I was supposed to eat? The capsules,
I mean, to replace all that ridiculous food.
So many resources, for something so
temporary. So much time spent managing
something so crazy, so untenable, this planet.
Earth. We should have known it would
never let us leave. Even now—with
tsunamis, superstorms, melting ice,
all the rest—even now, it sends up
its tender shoots, waves its
cloud arms, says,
“Stay. Stay.”
NaPoWriMo, Day 22 prompt: Write an Earth Day poem.
Marilyn Rauch Cavicchia 
Fantastic! You make 50’s style speculative science fiction and social commentary seem effortless. 🙂
Thanks so much! “Speculative” … that’s the word I was looking for but couldn’t recall. 🙂
Wow! I love this–how it moves from funny futuristic cliches to a compelling personification of earth. That ending is very poignant!
Thanks, Jennifer! I didn’t want to do nature and springtime, so this went in a very different direction. 🙂
love, love the ending of this! what a great piece for Earth Day.
Thanks so much, Joanna!