Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » Rape of the Earth

Rape of the Earth

ages past
     the earth was young,
          vibrant
               with untold wealth,
                    mostly unexplored
                         virgin land
                              untouched.

humankind,
     restless
          and searching,
               migrated
                    claiming the riches
                         greedily, and envy
                              stole …

the earth’s innocence. 

Written March 26, 2022
[Yalto, a poetry form invented
By Edward Ibeh, with syllables
3,4,2,4,5,3,2,3,2,3,3,5,6,1,5]

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Caren Krutsinger

Date: 3/27/2022 8:21:00 PM

I am impressed by the typing and the writing of this genius work.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/27/2022 9:15:00 PM

I was a long time coming around to trying a Yalto. It was invented by our own Edward Ibeh, you know. It gives the opportunity to express two comparative or adjoining statements of belief. I like it, but I probably won't do many of them. I found it quite complicated.

Indiana Shaw

Date: 3/26/2022 6:20:00 PM

On the Yalto form, Milt's, never heard of it, but, you've done a lovely powerful flow on it, like anyone who loses their innocence, just how long is Mother Earth prepared to put up with it, as Tom mentioned, a scorched earth, if that's what it takes, no matter how many thousands of years, unlike us, Mother Earth has already done her time before, and who cares for human life after all we have done to her, as to all the good folk on this earth, we will be nothing more than collateral damage : (

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/26/2022 7:55:00 PM

You know, Indiana, I think you're right on target. The earth shows many, many signs of being old. Perhaps, she is just tired of how we humans have treated her!

Jeff Kyser

Date: 3/26/2022 3:58:00 PM

Well, looks like you resonated with the Yalto pretty quickly….

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/26/2022 5:24:00 PM

I liked Edward's black cat poem, and so I thought it was time I gave it my best shot. This is pretty much my best shot! Thanks for the read, Jeff. I appreciated it.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 3/26/2022 2:53:00 PM

We see the evidence daily of mankinds greed defiling the earth. What are we leaving for those coming after us? a scorched earth maybe. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/26/2022 3:46:00 PM

I'm afraid so, Tom, and there's almost nothing we can do to prevent it. We can do our small part fighting pollution, climate change, etc., but I'm afraid it won't be enough to rescue the planet from the damage already sustained.