American Sonnet for Mother Earth

The bitter Earth is the song 

she sings on her deathbed.

A song of flood, fire, typhoon,

Mama saying break bones, 

burn houses, free the children 

by whatever means necessary.

America was never very good 

at listening to women.

I don’t want to be an American

responsible for this neglect.

But this isn’t matricide.

She’ll survive our selfishness,

let us suffocate in our own factory fumes. 

And good for her.