The day the mother died: Mother Earth reflects back on her life as her children leave her dying form.

I knew this day would eventually come. From the moment I first gave birth to life, I knew it wouldn’t last forever. I cannot help feeling proud as I watch you, my greatest achievement my human beings taking to the stars as the sun grows larger in my eyes. The beautiful sun which for centuries helped life will now end it, and I find it fitting.

There are so few of my children left now. Only scientists who are interested in readings and a few stubborn people who have decided to stay despite the risk. My oceans are empty, long since drained, and these few are the only comfort I will have when the sun swallows me. I wonder if there will be pain? I almost wish I could go with you on the "arks" as you have named them. But every mother must let her children go, and I suppose that now is my time.

I remember when you first began, such curious little things you were, flying by the vines through my forests, chattering in your own, strange language. My heart went to you then. Knowing that you were one of my few children whom had no natural defenses of your own, I knew I had to intervene. I gave you a bit of the great knowledge from my own spirit, knowledge that would help you hunt, to build, and to be at one with me. That little bit of help set me back a few millennium as I rested.

When next I saw you, it was during the years they now call the stone age. You were bigger now, and had the first weapons. My children, growing and filling the world. But you were still unhappy, even as you learned so many new things. I couldn't help feeling proud as you grew so fast.

But growth also brought change. You started to fight over pieces of my body, and I cried as your blood filled the soil. I turned in horror from you as i closed my ears to the cries.

It was many centuries later that I saw you again, my chosen, my favorites, first learning to fly the nest, to leave me.

I felt your rocket tear through my skin as it soared into the stars above, and I felt proud again.

When you first discovered the problem of the sun's expansion, i saw you work together, I saw your potential.

When you completed the first of the "ark" rockets designed to take life to another planet, I wanted to keep you close.

But as you flew away I realized that you would continue on, my children, my favorites, my life, and i was ready to let go.

When the sun got so close it began to burn me up, I thought of you one last time and cried tears of joy.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 25.04.2011

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Widmung:
To Anita, the best friend I ever had and whose heart I broke because I felt I didn't deserve her. Forgive me? For David who keeps bugging me to write something, happy?