On Halloween, Thinking About What’s Spooky Hint: Not pumpkins
On Halloween, Thinking about What’s Spooky
Hint: Not Pumpkins
There’s a great garbage patch
in the North Pacific.
It bobs plastic,
all those beer rings,
the sacks that bag things,
the bottles of that water we prefer,
the toys, the gear, aped furniture,
the wrappings of our shiny lives,
the trappings of our dull lives–
(a lot of them at least) land
over there–
Other bits band together
in the North Atlantic,
the Indian, the Arctic–each
has its fellow patch, thatching some large
sea surface, bits seeping
to the deeps.
In the Pacific, the mass
dwarfs Texas (on a good day).
It’s bigger yet
when the eddies stretch.
Breakers break some
to polymer–de baby
of debris–
Oh polymer!
But the mer, le mer, our mere,
still doesn’t like that shit–
what wants light withers
without sun;
st0maches swell
with swallowed gadgets;
others suffocate
in the cratered nets
of ghost fishermen, or similar
knotted tangle–the goal of some
gone game–
Still, we keep at it–
making garbage, buying garbage,
sending it out to sea–
so we can have room
for more.
*********************************
Here’s a poem for Fireblossom’s Friday on With Real Toads to write about something spooky.
We are now into November, and I am seriously contemplating a break from poetry–(i) to catch up on my job life but, more importantly (ha!) (ii) to try to get some momentum from “Nanowrimo” national novel writing month–to work on another novel. It’s hard to focus on a novel if there is almost anything better to do. But, in my case, if I go without focusing long enough, I lose track of all my scribblings, and end up feeling terrible. (Yes, I should be more organized with my notebooks!) At any rate, I’ll see what I can stomach. Do check back in as I may at least end up writing about writing–if you are interested in that. I know I will miss all of you, and the daily back-and-forth of blogging not to post at all.
In the meantime, do also consider checking on my very different past novels–Nice and Nose Dive, as well as 1 Mississippi (children’s book) and book of poems, Going on Somewhere. Nice and Nose Dive are on Kindle for just 99 cents! Thanks!
I believe that the photo above is okay to use, but I have linked it to its source. No copyright infringement is intended. (The Millennium Report.)
Explore posts in the same categories: poetryTags: I'll tell you what's spooky, manicddaily, Not the Great Pumpkin Patch, The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Trashing the Seas, where do we go from here poem
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ManicDDaily 
November 1, 2014 at 11:06 am
This is truly terrifying ….
November 1, 2014 at 12:00 pm
My husband has watched several documentaries about this, and is incensed on the topic (as much as he ever is about anything–he is a tremendously calm person) I have tried to watch, but it’s just too horrific to see what unbelievable squalor, chaos and destruction we cause without even *thinking* about it, how many lives we ruin, how many creatures suffer and die for our idiotic focus on our “stuff.” You are completely right, k–this is the horror movie to end all horror movies–literally. Good luck with the nano writing–I selfishly will miss your poetry, but hope it will pop up occasionally, even if only as a pressure-relief valve.
November 1, 2014 at 5:44 pm
Thanks. I really don’t know how I’ll get back into novel, but know I won’t if I don’t make some concerted effort. And I like this novel–a little more upbeat–a lot more action. k .
November 1, 2014 at 12:24 pm
It’s facts like these that keep me awake at night.
November 1, 2014 at 12:32 pm
This is truly the terrifying stuff, not the ghosts and goblins (who might have a few words to say about our wanton disregard for the planet.) This is a GREAT write, my friend. Good luck with your novel. Like Hedgewitch, I hope for the occasional poem. That photo is appalling, as is the knowledge of that crap inside little bird bodies.Thanks for the share.
November 1, 2014 at 1:19 pm
okay Karin, this is terrifying.
hey, i read NICE. also terrifying. and beautiful. will write a review anon. the story really stuck with me.
November 1, 2014 at 5:42 pm
Marian, that is so kind of you to read Nice and to consider reviewing it. I very much appreciate that. The plastic sea is terrifying. Thanks k .
November 2, 2014 at 6:36 am
It’s not nice to mess with Mother. Disturbing stuff.
November 2, 2014 at 7:08 am
We prosper or die together. The mind blower here one of the biggest offenders, namely plastic bottles for water, is us paying money and poluting to a fare-thee-well to buy what in the western world is FREE. Best of luck with your writing and good for you for taking the time you need although I’ll miss you.
November 2, 2014 at 7:34 am
I could not agree with you more. The bottled water is so silly, as U.S. cities have long had clean water! I fear sometimes that water treatment standards will go down with everyone getting bottled water! And no more drinking fountains around hardly. It is really ridiculous.
Thanks, Mary, for your kind support. I am not sure that I can discipline myself but will try.
Take care, k.
On Sun, Nov 2, 2014 at 7:08 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
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November 2, 2014 at 1:45 pm
i was working on a report with my son a month ago on polution…and we were studying the patch of garbage in the ocean a bit…ugh…
November 2, 2014 at 4:59 pm
A beautiful poem indeed. Loved the beginning. That garbage patch renders your poem contemporary and relevant. Thanks.
Greetings from London.
November 3, 2014 at 2:14 am
sickens me. sickens all of us. we’re idiots. I’m impressed you can stay optimistic, Karin, despite our collective idiocy. ~
November 3, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Most of our conveniences are killing us. I now pretty much only have glass containers and try NOT to buy plastic water bottles. I even like the milk in glass bottles – but it is so expensive that way. sigh. Your poem is spot on scary.
November 7, 2014 at 11:53 am
Worse than spooky…hideous how we pollute the earth! Thanks for your excellent poetic commentary here, k…will miss you.
November 9, 2014 at 9:54 pm
good read, i really enjoy it!!!