The Earth and her many Colours - a poem in celebration of versatility and responsibility on Earth Day 2022

Earth.

What colour would you say she is?

The butterfly said – “She's the colour of the bright red roses!”

The bee said – “Well I think she’s the colour of the Sunflowers, Yellow!!”

The fish said – “I think she’s the colour of the deep blue sea…”

The farmer said – “She’s the colour of the wheat that I grow!”

The cheetah said – “She is the dark umber of the antelopes that I chase…”

The Elephant said – “She’s the luscious green bananas that I eat”

The river said – “She’s the delicious brown land that I touch…”

The land said – “She’s the bright blue sky that I see!”

But the sky looked sad, everyone wondered why.

He looked worried and grey.

“But we see no grey clouds!” everyone said.

They asked him what his heart wished to say.

“I can see the bird’s eye view from here above my friends,” he said.

“And the scenes I see makes me bother!

The waterfalls are drying, the winds are choking,

Floods at one place, forest fires at the other!

The seas are dirty, the parks are filthy,

Plastic piling here and there,

There’s something they call “Lifestyle diseases”

That I witness far and near.

What I see is the greed for short term gratification,

Is leading to long term distress, I daresay,

What future will the children experience, I shudder to think,

Haven’t humans learnt anything from what they’re facing today?”

Everyone nodded, looking anxious, not knowing what to say,

Suddenly their faces brightened,

As the bright Sun, Moon and Stars smiled,

Everyone’s mood lightened.

The Sun pointed to a little girl, busy planting a sapling,

The farmer rushed to her with some water to pour,

The clouds joined, others danced in the rain,

They sang, they celebrated, delighted to the core.

The girl said – “There’s still hope when one person stands up,

To the cause of making the world a healthier place,

Where minds are pure, and hearts focused on the same goal,

A world of live and let live, is what can be the safest space.

I am done complaining, lamenting that the world will never change.

I ask myself – What action am I taking to be the change I wish to see?

How best am I playing my part to hold up the banner

Of health, happiness, peace, and prosperity.

One awakened mind leads to several others I believe,

It is time to reverse the trend of history,

The Time is Now, to plan and act,

And share stories of victory.

A world where everyone works as per their potential,

Towards opening their minds and hearts to sustainability,

Towards taking the right actions now, no matter how small or big,

So that, you, me and everyone can flourish together till eternity.”

Listening to her, the Rainbow appeared,

Everyone wowed at her brilliant presence,

“Get down to work everyone!” merrily says the Rainbow

With each of her colours, standing out individually in their own essence.

- written by Tiara Dhar

(Artist, Writer, Photographer, Life Coach for Women)

(Did you know about the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals? If you are curious and wish to read about them and how you can take action in support of the 17 SDG's, please click here.)