Foreboding

We live in our civilized worlds
forgetful of the world beneath us
prideful in our dominion over all
sinking into the illusion of power
we ignore the warning signs
as we trip blindly forward
with our short-term vantage points
we ignore instinct and foreboding
believing ourselves more
than animal survival
planets tilt and shift retrograde
while forests teem with life unknown
a rumble from the Earth’s belly
wait to topple these fragile cards
we have always called bedrock
our foundation of stone
a simple lie
to comfort children
against the dark and stormy nights
while nature tolerates us
in the moment
until our time runs out – Caroline A. Slee