Poem - 21th century problems

21th century problems

I am sliding on this slippery slope,

I have chosen.

A vast field of evasive pebbles

The dried-out earth offers no hold.

Finally, I cling to a tree trunk.

This forest is bleeding out…

Below me a turquoise mountain lake is glittering in the sun.

Surrounded by humbling grey giants reaching tall into the sky.

As I let my eyes wander, I see:

The water is evaporating from the lake as the snow is melting from the mountains as the soil beneath my feed is crumbling to dust.

This beauty, too, is bleeding out.

My powerful illusion of normalcy and safety is shattered.

Through the shards, I am seeing more endings than I could possibly witness.

But also, such absurd beauty

!

The fear about my own ending is mounting to a ringing panic in my ear,

Can I be courageous enough for grace despite suffering?

Can I learn from the tree that is slowly shedding its leaves?

Even if they might not become fertile soil,

But dust