This is how the world will end.It will start small.
Just some anomaly that no one pays much attention to.
A plant dies,
a bird dies,
maybe some discoloration in the sea.Something small.
Then something else dies and then another and another.
Some one will say, "Is this a problem?"
and no one will answer.
They will be too busy saving the world from some other disease.Terrorism, maybe.
The Bird Flu.
Disappointing quarterly returns.
No one will care.
No "Disease of the Week" TV Movie will be made.
No celebrity will testify at Congressional Hearings
in favor of increased federal funding.Time will not devote a cover.
Not even Greenpeace will care.
Just something small,
that will relentlessly, tirelessly
mindlessly
follow its biological imperative
until it finishes
whatever it came to do.The emerald ash borer
will not stop
until all ash trees are dead.And whatever kills us
will not stop
until we are dead.Maybe the waters of the earth
will be poisoned.Maybe breathable air
will become too expensive
for any of us to afford.Maybe the rulers of humanity
will fight
until all their enemies are dead.Maybe someone will construct a better DNA.
Maybe it will just be
that we didn't realize we needed something
until it was all gone.Maybe we bury it under asphalt
and used computer parts
and 10-K's
and plastic grocery bags.Whatever it is.
whenever it comes,
it will wash across the face of this planet
like the high tide
of a late august moon.And all our arrogance
and self righteousness
will matter not a bit.No fundraising drive will stop it.
No man made law will deter it.
No military action will prevent it.
No televised appeal will persuade it.
Because
while it will start small,
it will not be small.It will be the universe
that knocks at our door
and dethrones
its self proclaimed master.The universe will simply tire
of our disrespect
and put an end to it.There is no effective treatment for the universe
but there likely is one for us.***********************
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