we forgot our roots<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

i saw how tenderly my grandmother toiled the soil,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

under scorching skies, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

back bent like alkebulan trying to pick up her innocent child from shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

i remember the scent of freshly harvested green vegetables entrancing me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

as visions of the green vegetable meal danced, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

like butterflies in my belly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the branches of broad trees became the safe place we ran to,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

escaping weary backs and tired feet,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the smell of nature,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the crisp breeze that whispered secrets on lazy saturdays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

it was a picture perfect world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

but dear mother earth,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

i confess that i’m lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

i’ve been trying to protect you, but in doing so, i’ve died twice.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

now, i am the villain in my own story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

your soil which once you treasured, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

now lies barren and ignored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

you hold humanity in your gentle hands like a lamb,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

yet remains an entity in an unforgiving world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the universe is burning, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

consumed by a fire that never ceases, not a flame fueled by passion, but rather the dark releases of greed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

we’ve ravaged the land, depleted the seas, and yet we still demand more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

the ocean’s tears rise,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

she is lamenting for its pain, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

screaming through the desolate landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

forgive us, gentle mother, for our thoughtless ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

we’ve strayed, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

forgotten our roots, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and lived recklessly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

please,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

call us back to order, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

that we may rediscover our place in harmony with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

yet, there is hope for a brighter tomorrow,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a future where sustainability and innovation lives in harmony,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

we can harness renewable energy, reduce waste, and preserve,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

restore the balance of nature, reviving our earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

together, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

we can make a change, a conscious shift in our ways,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

embracing eco-friendly technologies, and sustainable living days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

we will nurture the soil, protect the seas, and preserve the air,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and create a world where humanity and nature align, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

without a single care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

in this poem, shelby lakeh reflects on her experiences at a time of instability and climate change in her home country of cameroon. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31651,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7095,7087,7173],"tags":[],"storyfest_categories":[7169],"class_list":["post-45231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-art","category-storyfest","category-storyfest-2025"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n