The Earth Sighs and Heaves | Teen Ink

The Earth Sighs and Heaves MAG

By Anonymous

The earth sighs and heaves
under the filthy feet
of children
holding empty juice bottles
in their hands,

under the hefty frames
of semi trucks
with the rain and tar
shackled to their tires.

And we’ve all watched
a meek sun rise and melt
in a sea of smog,

and we’ve seen
every light in the city
litter on more
than the concrete.

The earth pants and wanders
with a river running
with festering wounds
and a slain moonlight
on its back,

with the stale aromas
of almond and cherry
the wind is still
chasing away.

And we’ve all felt
that breeze
who’s been nowhere other
than piles of rubble
and barren fields of weeds,

for the only ones
willing to sympathize with them
are the storm clouds.

Now the earth yawns and sleeps
on a pillow the universe
was kind enough to weave
from the stars that fell
without mourning and landed
in the empty bottles.

And though it tried to outrun
the nimbler planets
and just fell flat on its face,

we never really saw
the earth tumble on
without losing
at least one race.

Still, we never plan
on waking it up
because we’re the ones
who slowed its pace.



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This article has 10 comments.


on Jan. 6 2012 at 6:25 pm
browneyez16 GOLD, Hephzibah, Georgia
10 articles 1 photo 50 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;You may fail, but fall still fighting, don&#039;t give up whatever you do. Eyes front, head high, to the finish...see it through&quot; <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ~See It Through by Edgar Albert Guest~

This is a wonderful poem.Nice use of imagery!!

RFarage said...
on Apr. 6 2011 at 12:11 pm
This poem makes me think about how we treat our planet, and it is an eye-opener to how we should keep the world at its normal pace instead of slowing it down.

on Jul. 5 2010 at 2:30 pm
bbygurl21 PLATINUM, Boston, Massachusetts
29 articles 0 photos 111 comments

Favorite Quote:
sticks n stones my brick my bones but words cant

this peom is beutiful :) ♥♥☺☺☺

on Mar. 2 2009 at 4:34 pm
EternityBroken GOLD, Hooker, Oklahoma
17 articles 2 photos 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is impossible to love and be wise.

good job. loved it and hope u keep writing poems like this.

on Feb. 19 2009 at 3:33 am
xhelloxlovex14 BRONZE, Westwood, New Jersey
3 articles 0 photos 9 comments
have you ever read any of langston hughes poems. "festering wounds" "barren fields" Anyway, I think that the theme is portrayed very clearly, and overall I really enjoyed the poem, but if it had some rhythm, or even if the stanzes were mushed together into one long almost freewrite, I think that could improve it? Maybe? Either way I enjoyed it. =)

K.H said...
on Jan. 23 2009 at 12:45 am
This poem

im sorry,

but i lost interest half way through, and it has no rythem.

on Dec. 24 2008 at 12:30 am
Wow i just wanted to say that this is an amazing poem. It has good flow and i love the subject *props*

on Nov. 17 2008 at 10:20 pm
This is a beautiful piece! Your opinion was very well executed!

Amanda W. said...
on Nov. 1 2008 at 2:28 am
Wel picked choice of descriptive words. It really put an image in my mind. It was thought-povoking and original. The last stanza is really powerful and hits the reader hard. I didn't see it coming. Keep up the great work!

ebonyskye said...
on Oct. 25 2008 at 2:47 pm
i really like the imagery in this piece. and the last two lines hold an overwhelming truth. nice work.