Tags
earth song, michael jackson, michael jackson earth song, michael jackson poetry, National Poetry Month, poetry
Inspired by a friend’s posts, I tried three times to write about what I’m feeling, but couldn’t do it quite right. It may not be time yet. But before I even wrote what was on my mind, I was reminded of a song by Michael Jackson. His words say, rather perfectly, what I would have liked to.
It’s a strange world. We walk on carpets, on pavement, and stone. What does it feel like to have Earth under us anymore. I feel as though we’re all sedated, and forgot how the universe works—that there are cycles, forgot that we owe back, forgot that there’s no free lunch, but most of all, forgot compassion. Isn’t that what makes us human at all?
But it isn’t over. Not yet asleep, we’re somehow still in the stage when things are drifting down. There are voices, faint and few—who know not sleep, and try their best to keep their eyes open. Our eyes flicker too when we hear them. I know they do.
Even the sun doesn’t come out all at once. Steps and stages are part of the Design. It takes each raindrop to make rainfall. Should we not intend—try—just a little bit, when our eyes flicker this way at our souls?
Michael J Jackson
What about sunrise?
What about rain?
What about all the things that you said
We were to gain?
What about killing fields?
Is there a time?
What about all the things
That you said were yours and mine?
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we’ve shed before?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth, these weeping shores?
What have we done to the world?
Look what we’ve done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son?
What about flowering fields?
Is there a time?
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine?
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying earth, these weeping shores?
I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don’t know where we are
Although I know we’ve drifted far
Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can’t even breathe
(What about us)
What about apathy
(What about us)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about babies
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
Do we give a damn