Two Versions

Came up with a poetry idea, partly based on stuff going on with me and partly based on a line I read in David Brin's Earth. The first version is closer to the feelings.

HEALING GAIA

If I felt I could have offered you more
I would have stayed
Technology to repair the ozone
And replenish dwindling resources

Now I head out on a long trajectory
Taking as much of the population as I can with me
Hoping you will heal
But even my leaving causes scars

I look back to check
And you still look consumed
Broken
Hurt
Angry

I wonder if you see red
And assume Dopler shift
Leaving faster than I am
And straight away from you

I will continue my gentle arc
And watch
And pray
That you don't tear yourself apart
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On the way home I was able to do a re-write leaning a little more to the metaphorical side.

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Gaia fluctuates
Mankind adds pressure
Pushing this way and that
Breaking holes in her spirit
Taking more than they give
Poisoning her, weakening her

Once in awhile, she pleads for help
She grumbles unsatisfied in the ocean
Nudging waves against comfortable men
Drops heavy tear drops in New Orleans
But we write it off, call it acts of God

So we planned ark ships
Enough to take away two-fifths
Of the population
It takes still more resources
Weakens her more and causes
Little deaths in our souls as well

Finally, we lift away, causing still more scars
And burning up more of her breath
Leaving more chemicals and smoke
Sad to be leaving
But hopeful that she will heal
And perhaps be treated better in the future

As we look back we see her consumed
Broken
Hurt
Angry
We wonder if she sees red through smoke
And assumes we are accelerating
Leaving as fast as we can

We will continue our gentle arc
And watch
And pray
That she doesn't tear herself apart
Leaving for good is hard enough
Leaving in futility would be devastating