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| >> Static Item >> Poetry >> Environment >> ID #574705 |   |
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The Optimist and the Pessimist My pessimist friend began to moan, "The world is doomed, And we're the cause. We've destroyed the beauty; We've ruined the prize. Our greed and self-interest Have brought us to ruin." "Oh, no," said I. "We are not finished yet. We're steadily probing For the way to go forward. And we're making progress By what we have learned." Her mouth opened wide And more words tumbled out, "Acid rain is dissolving Our statues and forests; The Amazon Jungle is Fast losing ground. How dare you say that We are progressing?" I answered her calmly, Scarcely needing to think. "We're planting more forests, Restoring our treasures, Recycling our plastics, and Our air has improved." Her eyes grew much harder, Fierce from the strain. "Our air is smog-brown. We can't take a breath, How can you think That the Earth's getting Better and better?" "Our new understandings Are bringing the answers. Our future is here if you look, Trains levitating Without causing smog Going four times The speed of our cars." A growl deep inside her Slowly rose to the top. "Killer bees have invaded, Fire ants are still moving, And insects are poison-resistant!" I smiled rather smugly, And matched her reply. "Artificial retinas So the blind can soon see, Implants so the deaf can hear, Robots who work in dangerous places, With humans in safer locations." She paled and mustered One final attack. "Aids is expanding, No vaccine in sight, Riots, starvation, The homeless, the poor; We're almost beginning Yet another war!" Her arguments stung, But I clung to my vision. "From small variations In a molecular sense We've pestered the virus, Grown strong antigens That give us vaccines In tomatoes and lettuce. We've even formed plastics Stronger than steel and Germs that eat toxins. The future is here." As she sped through the door, I said a bit louder "Computers that answer An oral command, Telephones screening All unwanted calls, New therapies fighting Disease and genetics, In vitro babies For those who are sterile And microwave dryers Won't damage our clothes...!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
© Copyright 2002 Shaara (UN: shaara at Writing.Com).
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