growing up with my grandparents, who are farmers, had a profound impact on my life. every saturday, i was expected to help out on the farm. however, in 2018, when the anglophone crisis in my country of cameroon began, our routine changed. we had to stop attending school on mondays, and instead, spend those days on the farm. as a result, mondays and saturdays became our designated farming days.

my grandmother practiced traditional farming methods, using natural manure for crops and weeding by hand instead of relying on chemical sprays. however, as the area around the farm began to develop, with people building houses nearby, our farm became polluted with waste products like baby nappies and plastic bags. this contamination destroyed the soil quality, making it challenging to produce healthy crops. we were forced to start buying produce, and the widespread use of fertilizers for vegetables led to stomach problems.

one sustainability initiative in cameroon that inspired this poem is the “mount cameroon ecotourism project.” this initiative aims to promote eco-friendly tourism practices, conserve biodiversity, and support local communities around mount cameroon, an active volcano and biodiversity hotspot.

the project encourages sustainable farming practices, reforestation efforts, and waste management, while also promoting cultural heritage and community-led tourism. by supporting local communities and promoting eco-tourism, this initiative helps preserve the natural beauty of mount cameroon and its surroundings, aligning with your poem’s themes of environmental stewardship and harmony with nature.

we forgot our roots

i saw how tenderly my grandmother toiled the soil,

under scorching skies, 

back bent like alkebulan trying to pick up her innocent child from shame.

i remember the scent of freshly harvested green vegetables entrancing me,

as visions of the green vegetable meal danced, 

like butterflies in my belly

the branches of broad trees became the safe place we ran to,

escaping weary backs and tired feet,

the smell of nature,

the crisp breeze that whispered secrets on lazy saturdays.

it was a picture perfect world.

but dear mother earth,

i confess that i’m lost.

i’ve been trying to protect you, but in doing so, i’ve died twice. 

now, i am the villain in my own story.

your soil which once you treasured, 

now lies barren and ignored. 

you hold humanity in your gentle hands like a lamb,

yet remains an entity in an unforgiving world.

the universe is burning, 

consumed by a fire that never ceases, not a flame fueled by passion, but rather the dark releases of greed. 

we’ve ravaged the land, depleted the seas, and yet we still demand more.

we’ve lost our connection with nature, forgotten the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the soothing rain that falls from the ocean’s sky. 

the ocean’s tears rise,

she is lamenting for its pain, 

screaming through the desolate landscape.

forgive us, gentle mother, for our thoughtless ways.

we’ve strayed, 

forgotten our roots, 

and lived recklessly. 

please,

call us back to order, 

that we may rediscover our place in harmony with you.

yet, there is hope for a brighter tomorrow,

a future where sustainability and innovation lives in harmony,

we can harness renewable energy, reduce waste, and preserve,

restore the balance of nature, reviving our earth.

together, 

we can make a change, a conscious shift in our ways,

embracing eco-friendly technologies, and sustainable living days.

we will nurture the soil, protect the seas, and preserve the air,

and create a world where humanity and nature align, 

without a single care.