A poem by Vivienne R Reich
The earth whispered but you did not hear.
The earth spoke but you did not listen.
The earth screamed but you turned her off.
And so, I was born…
I was not born to punish you…
I was born to awaken you…
The earth cried out for help…
Massive flooding. But you didn’t listen.
Burning fires. But you didn’t listen.
Strong hurricanes. But you didn’t listen.
Terrifying Tornadoes. But you didn’t listen.
You still don’t listen to the earth when
Ocean animals are dying due to pollutants in the waters.
Glaciers melting at an alarming rate.
Severe drought.
You didn’t listen to how much negativity the earth is receiving.
Non-stop wars.
Non-stop greed.
You just kept going on with your life…
No matter how much hate there was…
No matter how many killings daily…
It was more important to get that latest iPhone than worry about what the earth was trying to tell you…
But now I am here
And I’ve made the world stop on its tracks.
I’ve made YOU finally listen
I’ve made you take refuge.
I’ve made you stop thinking about materialistic things…
Now you are like the earth…
You are only worried about YOUR survival.
How does that feel?
I give you fever … as the fires burn on earth.
I give you respiratory issues … as pollution fills the earth air.
I give you weakness as the earth weakens every day.
I took away your comforts…
Your outings.
The things you would use to forget about the planet and its pain
And I made the world stop…
And now…
China has better air quality … Skies are clear blue because factories are not spewing pollution unto the earth’s air.
The water in Venice is clean and dolphins are being seen. Because the gondola boats that pollute the water are not being used.
YOU are having to take time to reflect on what is important in your life.
Again, I am not here to punish you … I am here to Awaken you…
When all this is over and I am gone… Please remember these moments…
Listen to the earth.
Listen to your soul.
Stop Polluting the Earth.
Stop fighting among each other.
Stop caring about materialistic things.
And start loving your neighbors.
Start caring about the earth and all its creatures.
Start believing in a Creator.
Because next time I may come back even stronger…
Signed,
Coronavirus
Written by: Vivienne R Reich
This is such a powerful poem. I am on the steering committee for Campaign Nonviolence NC, part of a national movement to mainstream nonviolence in solving the issues of war, racism, poverty and the environment. We have a webinar coming during CNV NC Week on Sept. 21 where our theme this year is “Lift Your Voice and Your Vote for the Planet.” I would like to know if I can read Vivienne’s poem as part of our opening reflection.
Thank you.
Thanks for inquiring. We do not hold the license to this poem. It was shared on social media first and a community member asked if we could post it. If you find contact information for Ms. Reich, please let us know. We periodically search to see if we can find a direct link to her work but have not found it as of yet.
BERYL ROBERTSON 30 DECEMBER 2020
I first read this poem in April 2020
This poem keeps coming into my mind. I find it really powerful, so much so I feel I want to broadcast it.
Many folk in the UK are doing their level best to mend their ways for the better of the environment.
More people need to wake up and consider just how in one way or another we are all adding to an uncertain future for generations to come. Who alas, will be picking up the tab of the last 80+ years.
The picture of the Earthmonk was quite profound. The Virus sure has come back
This is so powerful and so true. I cried while reading this. Please God help us realize the truth in our heart.
I hope this will over soon.
Dear Coronavirus,
It gives me great pain to write to you. You have taken enough lives. You have inflicted wounds that are deeper than those that bleed.
You are trying to teach us to be responsible beings. But why have you taken refuge in destruction to teach us to nurture nature ?
Yes, human activity has wounded the earth. We are at war, we torment, we kill. Now we have found ingenious methods to pollute the earth and invite you again. We have dumped bodies in rivers, we have buried bodies in the sea beaches and we are still eating endangered animals. In short, we have not cared for mother earth. But please find a better way to teach us. Stop giving us suffering, stop taking lives please. Otherwise how are you different from us? Please teach us in a gentle way. Or else we will keep bobbing up and down in the waves you send us until we go down and are wiped off from the earth.
Please give us a chance – a chance to rise up and regain our lives and treasure the most precious gift – life itself. Please .
Thanks in anticipation of your retreat.
Signed
A humble soul.