Do you believe in a creator
who intends that humans should
act as guardians of creation?*
my chest opens
and frozen birds fall out
my lips part
and fuzzy orange tongues
lisp yes yes yes
my hands clench and unclench
in an angry motion like prayer
all signifying
who have we become
when we must swear in a court of law
that we still believe
in the righteousness of compassion
before scientists can do their job?
tonight while sleep stifles me
I’ll do my own work
dreaming of penstemons and ptarmigans
in a paradise devoid of people
where they’re left to sing their own songs
make sun into sugar into flight
just for the pure joy of being
not to do a single ape good
Author’s note: The Endangered Species Act specifies that any person can file a lawsuit if they believe the Act has been violated. However, advocates must also show they have legal standing to bring the case, which the courts have interpreted to mean that they would be harmed by the action in question. The quoted text is from the questionnaire used by Center for Biological Diversity to help prepare these declarations. It asks the declarant to consider how they would be harmed professionally, aesthetically, spiritually, recreationally, economically, and/or morally if the species in question went extinct. The excerpt is from the spiritual section.
—
Erin Robertson teaches outdoor nature writing classes and is Writer in Residence for Friends of Coal Creek. Her poetry has been published in journals and recorded by The Crossing. Past honors include being a guest artist hosted by the U.S. Consulate in Kazakhstan, Voices of the Wilderness Artist in Residence in Alaska, and Boulder County Artist in Residence. She lives in Louisville, Colorado with her remarkable husband, two sons, parakeet, and pup. www.erinrobertson.org
