Green fingernails, grey skies
What will we do when the last tree falls?
Do you see a dead tree?
this can’t change
nothing will grow again
it’s too late
words I never want to hear;
that we can do this
there’s still a chance
if we work together
people try but
not all
and
humanity is selfish
we know
this
it’s your world
yet
it wasn’t you
is not an excuse
it’s too late
cup your hands in the dirt
scraping for life
and
accept that
this is our reality
then it is
it’s over
when we look like
giving up
no
hope can remain
and we can’t rewind the clocks
we are out of time
it’s a fool who says
this can change
and
that tree is alive
Author’s Note: If this seems too disheartening, try changing your perspective ⬆️
About the Creator
Joe O’Connor
New Zealander
English teacher
Short stories and poems📚
Please be honest- I would love your constructive feedback, as it's the only way I'll get better. Would rather it was pointed out so I can improve!
Currently writing James The Wonderer
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More stories from Joe O’Connor and writers in Poets and other communities.
"Hear Me Out"
"Hear me out, what if we ran away together?" "Where do you want to go?" "Anywhere but here. We could move to a new city or to Canada, or we could disappear from society to live in the middle of the woods. Maybe a combination of two of those things would be good. What do you say?"
By Kay Husnick6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (13)
It's a dying tree from the beginning and the end and we're doing almost nothing to save it and too many others. I think that I love trees more than most humans but that's another story : )
An excellent inverse, I could NOT get the hang of this form!
Oh this is incredible! What a dramatic reversal, such a good inverse poem! And a compelling commentary on deforestation too.
Wow, this is crafted perfectly with two very distinct meanings. Absolutely brilliant, Joe!
This had clear powerful message both ways. I really liked the way you began with opposite line of the tree being alive and dead
Love this. I struggled so much with this challenge, and you made it seem effortless. Love the simplicity and beauty of your words. Awesome job!
Wow. Nice work!😊💕
Fantastic!!! Love it!!!♥️♥️💕
Well. this is stunning work, Joe and couldn't believe I wasn't already subscribed to you - so fixed that straight away. This flowed so well and had a very powerful message. Loved it. Funny thing...I tackled human's ruination of the earth in one of my inverse entries!
Sometimes, it's just too late, isn't it. So sad but it's the bitter truth. Loved your poem!
Excellent… I didn’t realise it was an inverse poem until I read Mackenzie’s comment… amazing!
No, i don’t see a dead tree. Not anymore. BRILLIANT inverse. It flows so well both ways! My jaw is on the floor.
Very well done.