Earth Day

A “Big Bang” may have started it all
And into their respective places did everything fall.
A beautiful world of earth and sea and sky
Ours not to reason how, when, or why.

This production was directed by a divine hand
As peace settled over the entire land.
He hung the moon and the stars in place
And made the sun to shine, the world to grace.
Precious gifts for the entire human race.

Out of the chaos came a certain order
Mountains and rivers determined the borders.
A world clean, green, pristine and pure
Ensuring that this idyllic scene would long endure.
Verdant valleys, mountains, hills, and trees
sprouting flowers, grass, and even weeds.

Gifts given to us to use and enjoy
To keep them safe all our skills to employ.
But, alas, precious air is reduced to smog
Rivers and oceans with debris are clogged.
Highways littered by a throw-away society.
Carelessly tossing trash with impropriety.

Tired and worn out Mother Earth
Sheds copious tears and hopes for a rebirth.
Earth’s demise we must try to forestall
Will we be to blame for Earth’s fall?
Custodial money, time and effort misspent
Beware when Father Time comes to collect the rent!

There is only one solution to correct this abuse —
Reduce, recycle and reuse!

Picture of Joan M. Lacombe

Joan M. Lacombe

Aiken’s Poet Laureate 2019
Picture of Joan M. Lacombe

Joan M. Lacombe

Aiken’s Poet Laureate 2019

In the know

Related Stories

Pocket Poetry | Palmetto Bella

Pocket Poetry

Changing the World – One Poem at a Time Having been graciously selected by the members of The Aiken Poets to serve as Poet Laureate, I wondered what I could do to make people more excited about poetry and to make poetry better appreciated, noticed, read, memorized, written, and shared. Then I came up with this idea I call Pocket Poetry — a few lines in rhyme or free verse, written in calligraphy on white or colored cards, and distributed at random to people I meet. They go to people I know, people who provide a service, like the cashiers at the supermarket, the teller at the bank, the postal

Read More »
Bella Book Host: Changing Ways We Consume Literature | Palmetto Bella

Bella Book Host: Changing Ways We Consume Literature

As I have mentioned before, I am a huge fan of Audible. As a mom of two dancers, I spend a lot of time driving and waiting. Audible allows me to access a nearly endless list of audio books from my phone, in the car, in the studio waiting room, and while sewing. For a monthly charge I receive a limited number of credits included in my plan. This month, after realizing I had already used my credits catching up on speculative fiction series involving dragons and talking ships, I evaluated my options. I keep my in-person shopping limited these days, but Amazon had print and Kindle versions available, and

Read More »
The August Bella Book Club Review | The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Aiken Bella Magazine

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

The August Bella Book Club Review by Nichole Miller Samuel Hill was teased and bullied as a child due to his unique eyes. He was born with ocular albinism, which caused his eyes to appear red. This led to names such as “devil boy,” and Sam Hill became Sam Hell. His only friends were Ernie Cantwell and Mickie Kennedy, and they stuck by his side. Ernie was the only black boy in their Catholic school, and Mickie was known for breaking all the rules. A group of misfits, they showed that compassion and friendship can break all barriers. This book dares to question how many times someone can be told

Read More »
A Return to Art and Music | Palmetto Bella

A Return to Art and Music

An Evening of Art & Music • September 30 • 4:30 – 7:30 pm We, here at Bella, are excited about small scale events coming back to life. Not only have our beloved Bella Buzz pages been empty, but no events have occurred to fill the famous “Scene Around Town” section, leaving the pages of Bella empty of the faces of Aiken. A duo of women, Peggy Penland and Katy Lipscomb, are rallying for indoor/outdoor events featuring music, art, and community to entice us to get out and experience life. And so was born An Evening of Art & Music, scheduled for September 30, 4:30 – 7:30 pm. The past

Read More »