Spill of Ecocide

Off California’s southern coast

A mess of which not to boast

One hundred thousand plus gallons of oil

Putting nature through extreme toil.

Some effects stare you right in the face.

Birds cannot keep up their migratory pace

Flying forty-five days for a month long trip

More easily caught by predators’ grip.

Otters cannot stay warm with fur marred

Producing a cold death graveyard.

Dolphins create fewer cute offspring

Fewer watery melodies they sing.

Some effects you might not be aware

But about them you plainly must care.

Phytoplankton population drops,

Biota food chains grind to a stop.

Surface fish get poisoned via their gills

Each breath inhaling chemical spills.

Damaged are invertebrate spawn

Who may not see another dawn.

Ecosystem recovers for years

Piling onto many biologist fears

Such as the loss of coral reefs

As climate change expands its fiefs.

Now, no longer can the world abide

The monstrosity known as ecocide.

No more ‘blah blah blah’ as Gaia ignites

Ignoring problems out of our sight.

We cannot distance ourselves, conceited

Habitat and species demise must be treated

The same as crimes against humanity.

Do not accuse me of insanity!

We need drastic acts for ecocide’s end

As well as for environment’s mend.

No matter how far away from nature we be

From ecocide none of us can flee

Because Gaia will strike back

We will not survive the attack.