by Bobi Leutschaft Poitras

But Who Are We?

As I sang all by myself
Quietly on the floor,
I saw the year pick up its bags
And skulk up to my door.
“I promised I’d be good,” it said,
“And better than the last.
I don’t know what came over me…”
And just like that, it passed.

I sat and watched it fade from view,
The night air still and cold,
As I stood up to close the door
A sudden thought took hold - 
As good as its intentions were
It failed us in the end,
But who are we, the human race,
Our judgement to extend?

Our negligence has cost clear skies,
We’ve poisoned all our seas,
We’re heating up and killing off
Our earth by small degrees.
And yet this little thing called hope
Still hangs around our tongues
And twists itself into our dreams
And fills our tired lungs.

I shouted out into the air
Before it was too late,
“I’m sorry, 21, you failed,
But I can sure relate!
We’ll give your next in line a chance
To pull the doomsday brakes,
If only it will bear with us
And all of our mistakes.”

©Bobi Leutschaft Poitras, December 31, 2021