Aeropachydermicide: recklessly causing the death of someone or something by actions that result from the foolish belief that one is so smart and powerful that one can make an elephant fly.
and our reckless dance with fractured atoms
we believed we were the miracle
and it all went seriously awry
we fantasized we had dominion
that we understood the vast unknown
could control the raw chaotic
that we had figured out the why
so we delved into dark science
with no regard for frail nature
flailed our way across the planet
belched our leavings into our sky
we so bought into our egos
that we perceived ourselves as gods
that we were capable of anything
perhaps make the elephant to fly
but we humans lost sight of balance
did not comprehend our place
as only one of precious many
we let the tipping point slip by
now we wonder what will happen
to our misbegotten dream
stare through disbelieving tears
as we watch it slowly die
rob kistner © 10/3/11
revised © 2019
Hi! I’m Edgrrr, rob’s shih tzu.
dang…powerful write rob…the opening stanza is a grabber…and yes we tend to meddle well beyond dominion…we have so lost the definition of it in the process….great close as well…
Great stuff, Rob. But the “continuous growth” maniacs will take no notice . . and even if they do, our fate and the planet’s is already sealed.
Or be careful what you wish – and strive – for! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed reading this. The first four stanza particularly, are superb.
This is another stunning piece
in a lexicon of touching and
meaningful poetics. I love the
line: /could control the raw
chaotic/ and it holds up to the
mirror the whole nuclear age,
the latest thrust of technology,
global warming, and a planet
in peril, all wrapped around
powerful wordsmithing. Good
job, Rob.
Wow! Loved this … the title of your Magpie could be the middle line of a haiku!
I truly hope I’m wrong about the “tipping point”, but if prevailing attitudes don’t shift — well…
Potent piece of work here! When you mentioned elephants flying, I had no idea I was coming for life lessons and grand truths. Well done!
Not until we stop the belch and atom frenzy for 7 generations shall we be free.
So the wise ones say….
Magnificent write, Rob. My fave of yours so far.
Once they said going over the speed of a running horse would kill a human. Then vehicles of incredible speed were invented, and we began to go fast, think fast, act fast, no time was left for consideration, for meditation, mediation, compromise. We have moved fast enough to kill a little planet for all the little folks here in whoville.
So true many do seem to lose themselves within their searcha nd forget what it was they wanted to begin with, powerful piece!
Rob- Powerful and moving piece… love the ending although it is a bit sad.
Powerful piece. I hope we haven’t reached the tipping point but…
somewhere between our petrochemical insanity
and our reckless dance with fractured atoms…wow…powerful…and yeah – somehow we lost it on the way..this elephant may never fly..good write rob
A powerful thought provoking write.
This is powerful; excellent.
Brilliant piece. Love the deconstruction of our arrogant species.
It is a sad state we’re in, past the tipping point, indeed. Powerful write.
Amazing how man looks like an ant from a low flying plane!
Love that title…it alone is a magnificent statement.
the opening stanza tells us what’s coming. I like the ”somewhere between petrochemical insanity and our reckless dance with fractured atoms….” powerful opening statement.
Powerfully commanding voice (Zarathustra-like…or Nietzschean at least) a doomsday eulogy — sans any/all praise.
Scary…scarier than a flying elephant!
good job. thanks for sharing.
I think our attitudes are the same re this prompt. Yours overt, mine scrambled in a chaotic nursery rhyme, like the nonsense we live in. Enjoy your work. I have tried to comment in the past but the dark screen usually doesn’t show up my typing. Glad I managed tonight.
very beautiful insights, everything is relative.
enjoyed your poetry,
visiting from poetry pantry of poets untied.
Strongly expressed. In San Diego there are scientists right now who are trying to open a black hole. The hubris!
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, it says somewhere in King James.
But the only flying elephant I have ever seen was — Dumbo!
So True…. I feel the same way, we are on a downward slide of disaster waiting to happen. We have always dirtied our world in every endeavor….. first plumbing was monumentally grand, until we realized we can’t simply dump crap into the rivers. Smokestacks and space exploration and burying radioactive materials with half lives of millions of years……. It only compounds itself and technology seems to make it even more dangerous.. Nice poem Rob…… Really like this one….
Balance is a bad thing to lose… 🙂
sober reflections on real issues – but beautifully tied to the prompt
well done
An uncomfortable, discomfiting, depressing, powerful praiseworthy poem. You’ve summed up magnificently most of the ills of the world. It should be copied in banner headlines in all the press, flown in the sky, taught in schools, to serve as a reminder of what we should NOT be doing to our planet.
This flying elephant image is making a big impression on the poetry world this week. I have read several poems in the last few days with the same image. So well done and I am glad that I have read yours too.
I took the whimsical side and you took the decay of man theme – deftly penned
sad, real, and awesome punching lines.
Thanks for sharing.
Right from the title this really puches its message out. great write
Powerful write, Rob…well done…
I agree that progress is leading us to the precipice of destruction.
Love the title !!
Very good points.
But other species have also polluted themselves into extinction, we may just be another.
The difference is we should have known better, when in fact we are no better. Our ego makes our ongoing, ignored, even denied self destruction, thst much more reprehensible – because we are knowingly bringing down the nature around us.
Powerful words, Rob. I think you’re right–but I hope you’re wrong.
Is Aeropachydermicide a real word, or did you make it up. So clever, either way. 🙂
Thank you Merill! Hope I am wrong as well… but I look at the world and see it bleeding. Aeropachydermicide is a “special” word of applied magical humor. It has been around since 2011 when I invented it… 🙂
Prophetic and poignant!
Glad it resonated for you Frank…
This is incredibly potent, Rob! I especially like ”somewhere between petrochemical insanity and our reckless dance with fractured atoms.”
Thank you Sanaa…! 🙂
Well done. I feel like a ant cog in a hill without control of the mob we are together.
Thank you Colleen! 🙂
I feel this one, Rob……..we passed the tipping point some time ago……and people are STILL in denial. We were misguided thinking we had dominion….now we begin to feel the consequences.
I am glad this resonated for you Sherry. I know some experts believe we csn still salvage our situation. I hope for my grandson’s sake they are right!
Yes – flailing and flaying. You get at the heart of what is wrong with that theory.
Thank you Richard. It’s the arrogance of human beings that completely disqualifies them as the holders of “dominion” and negates that ludicrous theory!
I do wonder too… or will there be science to save us again?
For me Björn, the irony is I believe the blind persuit of science is part of the problem, so I shudder to think more science may be the answer. However, a responsible application of beneficial science may actually help – at least I hope so.
An interesting poem Rob. I have heard of pigs flying, but this is the first I have heard of trying to make an elephant fly. But on the other hand, we do have some elephant size planes that fly in the sky! Great work!
There are certsinly those in power who are so arrogant Dwight, they believe they can fly that elephant – all the while, the wealth of the earth is being commandeered by thr very welthy. Energy and medicine have become high profit areanas when they should be industries striving to bring forth more reasonable more effective products for the largeest number of people possible. This will benefit everyone be cause a helthy work force with reasonable priced energy to use in working and creating – they will produce more, better, and that would elevate the world economy.