Suicidal Humanity

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I've been reading the book X-Events by John Casti.  Several points from the poem came from him.  I also have a degree in horticulture, and am well aware of how chemical insecticides and cellphone emissions are depleting the populations of bees and other pollinators. Modern farming techniques may grow larger vegetables faster, but kill the soil.  Who knows, we might be having to survive in the future on cloned plants grown in hydroponic vats because nothing will grow anymore in fields.

Our supposed modern scientific genius
May in fact just be our last fatal weakness.
This technological house of cards we've made
Left humanity walking along the edge of a razor blade.

How much could you buy or sell using debit or credit
If someone or something wiped out the internet.
A computer virus, terrorists, hackers, or an E.M.P.--
Will wipe out our hard-earned wealth eventually.

Killing beneficial insects is almost like fratricide.
Think really hard again about ever using insecticide.
How many fields of vegetable plants and fruit trees
Will ever bear fruit if there are no more bees.

Rather than organically producing more living topsoil,
We're killing what remains with chemicals derived from oil.
As chemical contaminants follows their downward motions,
Choral reefs and plankton are dying in the oceans.

As a species, we've all become germ-o-phobic neurotics,
Religiously trying to kill all microbes with antibiotics.
But pharmaceutical medicine will never defeat every bug,
So one of these days there's certain to be a super plague.

So will we all starve because we cannot buy or sell,
Or because the oceans and farmlands have all gone to Hell?
Will we be extinguished by some invincible virus?
What ever it be, the fault will probably lie in us!

I wish I could offer some brilliant inspired solution,
But remember that extinction is also a part of evolution.
You may write me off as some kind of nutty alarmist,
But people that know me consider me to be an optimist.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016



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Date: 5/3/2017 3:03:00 AM
Really really good piece of work. I liked every bit.
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Mark J. Halliday
Date: 5/8/2017 11:21:00 PM
Thanks for commenting. I've written a few things in that direction.
Date: 3/6/2016 6:43:00 AM
Great write Mark....this is going in my fav poems!
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Mark J. Halliday
Date: 3/21/2016 12:29:00 AM
I'm honored. Thanks for commenting. I've written a few pieces with similar themes. Haven't logged-in in a while; sorry I didn't reply sooner.
Date: 2/13/2016 11:20:00 PM
Um No ablo eso...lol...thanks
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Date: 2/10/2016 12:41:00 PM
Thanks for replying to my comment
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Mark J. Halliday
Date: 2/10/2016 9:55:00 PM
De nada. De rien/pas de quoi. Ne za shto, nyet problema. Nema problema. Bitte schon. Always enjoy your comments.
Date: 2/9/2016 5:23:00 AM
A very deep, factual verses you've penned Mark.... Indeed we should change ourselves, rather than changing the world. Congrats on your top placement in the contest!!! ;-)
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Mark J. Halliday
Date: 2/9/2016 6:37:00 PM
Thanks. Always appreciate comments.
Date: 2/8/2016 11:49:00 PM
You, dear Mark, have conveyed a very important message in this couplet. We... the human race, in our constant quest for more, more, more, are destroying this beautiful planted. Many congrats on your well deserved high honor. Elaine
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Mark J. Halliday
Date: 2/9/2016 6:37:00 PM
Thanks. Always appreciate comments. You might like my piece Extinctions
Date: 2/8/2016 10:00:00 PM
Mark, Congrats on your "Self-Inflicted" Win..... LINDA
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Mark J. Halliday
Date: 2/9/2016 6:38:00 PM
Thanks. Always appreciate your comments.
Date: 1/25/2016 5:29:00 AM
Exactly the sort of stuff I love to read and write about. Greatly truthful and informed observational piece, Mark.
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Mark J. Halliday
Date: 1/25/2016 12:10:00 PM
Thanks for the thoughtful comments. I have several poems on this theme.
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