Surface run-off weaves through blades of turf grass
And brings chemicals to ponds where toxins collect.
Nitrates and phosphorus soon overflow,
And eutrophication leads to algae blooms.
Invasive fish feed until they can feed no more.
And yet, an ignorant angler might net a prize catch,
Then spend a life living in regret.
Dirt and gravel from tires wearing thin,
Torn plastic fragments, where do they begin?
Scrap metal pieces from cars falling apart,
Excess salts, carcinogens, and oils that seep,
All find their way into sleepy urban ponds.
Brine spreads on roads, oil slicks on the ground,
Waste from gas wells trickle and drift,
Solvents and chemicals from dust-control and de-icing,
Each season brings its own riffs,
And rain or stormwater hurls every sin along.
Waste-water from industrial farms,
Sludge from cow watering, pooping, and washing.
Solvents, inks and heavy metals from print shops,
All leave their mark on our blue waters.
Acids and bases discharged by factories,
Spent solvents from chemical and car manufacturing plants,
Toxins from mines and sawdust from lumber yards,
How much more can water do to redeem?
Overwhelmed by the flood of industrial waste,
Surface and groundwater feel the charge.
Penetrated by toxins, the water cycle is at risk.
Wastewater has become a threat,
Posing a risk to all life forms.
If we humans don’t act and mind nature’s call,
The earth as a machine might finally break.
Rivers will flow still, thick with toxins and pain,
Fish will drift silent, beneath a veil of acid rain.
But if we stop our ways and give water the chance,
The cleansing process might begin,
And the water cycle will be saved.
Water holds the power to heal and thrive—
If only we let nature survive.
Achirri Ishmael
August, 2024.
Butterfly Spaces 
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