Oxygen, a currency of survival, traded in whispers, trapped in tanks to sell and lust over; while the privileged breathe easy —their tanks full—, their lives untouched by the weight of greed.
Sirens wail, a breathless crowd waits, each exhale —a question, each inhale —a gamble.
Faces pale under fluorescent lights —the air thick with desperation, a mother cradles her child, counting breaths like coins, wondering if today will be as though —and enough.
Coveted numbers —data— spills from screens, charts and graphs, cyphers and gowns but, behind the numbers, are lives —stories tangled in the web of scarcity, each one a thread pulled tight.
We scroll through feeds, stroll past the cries, as if the world’s breath is just, yet, another boring headline, another statistic, another moment lost in the pond of uncareness.
The truth —in the silence— hangs heavy: a collective gasp, a call to understand, to bridge the chasm, to turn the tide… to make the air flow freely and to reclaim the right to breathe.
Transform in the narrative!: rewrite the script; make every heartbeat matter, help every life be —as promised— a promise; because the air we share is a shared responsibility.
Notes
This poem, inspired by a recent news article about the global shortage of medical oxygen, reflects my thoughts on a vital resource that, while available to some, still leaves many in need. It serves as a reminder that our current systems, though they provide essential services, must evolve to meet the growing demands of our communities.
As individuals, we have the power to drive this evolution. By fostering self-awareness and personal growth, we can work together—through voting, advocacy, and collaboration—to ensure that essential services are a given in our advanced society. In doing so, we contribute to building better communities for all.
In the midst of a world grappling with the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and cultural erasure, the poetry that celebrates indigenous environmental conservation offers a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving our planet’s natural and cultural resources.
Through the voices of indigenous poets and writers, we are invited to explore the intricate relationships between humans, the land, and the environment, and to consider the ways in which traditional knowledge and cultural heritage can inform our responses to the environmental challenges of our time. The poem that follows is a testament to the enduring power of indigenous poetry to inspire, educate, and transform us, and to promote a deeper understanding of the importance of ecological awareness and cultural preservation.
With its rich imagery, nuanced exploration of the human experience, and profound respect for the natural world, this poem is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of indigenous cultures, and a call to action to protect the land, the water, and the future of our planet.
The truth of our connection
Gathering of the woodland’s elders, where cedar and spruce preside, where sunlight filters through a lattice of leaves; the earth breathes: its pulse a soft murmur known only to those who walk with reverence, barefoot on the moss-soft —rich—, dark soil.
Indigenous hands cradle the forest —fingers tracing the bark, palms pressed against the pulse of ancient roots that twine and twist—, where stories unfurl like ferns: each tale a whisper, binding the past to the present as a living spiderweb of wisdom.
They know the language of the land —the way the rain whispers secrets to the earth—, the dance of the seasons, the secrets held in the rustle of leaves that holds the memories of countless winters, the songs of creatures hidden in the underbrush’s notes —a sonata— reminding everyone, perennially, of the delicate balance that sustains us all.
Yet, the world spins faster than a spinning top toy —a relentless wheel of progress—, threatening to drown the laughter of the guardians in the roar of time and machines; to silence the songs that have echoed through eons; to sever the threads that bind us to the land, to each other, and to the future.
Nevertheless —still—, we rise, resilient as the oaks —our spirits entwined with the roots, defiant against the tide of forgetfulness with hearts pumping in synchrony with the forest’s pulse, as if we’d need much more to remind us that we are not alone, that they’re here, through countless stories, lives and memories.
Gathering of shadows dancing humbly as the light flickers through the truth of our connection. To protect our culture is to watch over the cradle of biodiversity —and our sense of purpose—, to understand that, in their survival, we find our own. For, in the heart of the forest, lies the knowledge that we are all woven into this vast, verdant web; and to sever one thread is to unravel the whole, to lose the memories, the stories, and the songs that make us who we are, to lose the land, the forest, and the creatures that call it home, and to lose ourselves, our sense of place —to lose the very essence of what it means to be alive.
Poetry that Celebrates Indigenous Environmental Conservation
Exploring the Intersection of Indigenous Culture and Environmental Conservation
The poem above is a powerful example of poetry that celebrates indigenous environmental conservation, highlighting the importance of preserving the natural world and the cultural heritage of indigenous communities. Through its use of imagery and metaphor, the poem explores the intricate relationships between humans, the land, and the environment, emphasizing the need for ecological awareness and traditional knowledge in our daily lives.
If you’re interested in learning more about traditional knowledge in poetry, we invite you to explore my collection of poetry and literature. My goal is to provide a platform where all voices can be heard and to promote a deeper understanding of the importance of ecological awareness and cultural preservation.
