[Image
Description: A photo of a collage and illustration in a notebook on a wood background. The artwork includes a face, a tree, a sun, and the words climate.]
Art
by Sarah Godfrey (@
Poem by Ria Riju
Inheritance
of the Earth
If we, the
children of the meek,
should
inherit an earth
whose
rainforest lungs
breathe a
trail of waste –
an earth
where the ailing sea
shudders in
its own slick
If we, the
children of the meek,
should
inherit an earth
where the
grass goes nostalgic
at the mere
mention of green
and the sky
looks out of its depth
when
reminded of blue
If we, the
children of the meek,
Should
inherit an earth,
Where we buy
packaged air,
And cold is
just a forgotten word,
Where the
water is not more than a sludgy liquid
And we
forbid the very thought of its consumption.
If we, the
children of the meek,
should
inherit an earth,
where people
no longer die
Of old age
But die, of
climate change.
If we, the
children of the meek,
Should
inherit such an earth,
We ask you,
the people,
Is this what
you have left,
Besides
money and gold?
Should we
dance or frown,
At the news
of our inheritance.
Ria Riju is an average 14 year old girl from the beautiful state of Kerala in India, but with a twist. She loves reading and writing and supporting major issues of the 21st century. She dreams of going around the world, exploring something exciting she could write about, and maybe meeting her idols —otherwise she is weaving out a poem with artistic threads of words, or just doing her schoolwork. You can read her thoughts on her blog Writings of a Thought.