The Yellow Duck of Doom

~

Archaeologists are never

entirely scientific.

They speak with great authority,

their interpretations are terrific,

but far-fetched very often,

stretched to fit their theories.

My fear is

they often get things wrong.

~

Evidence of declining crops,

frantic population shifts in search of food,

signs of climate drift,

ice melts and deserts spreading,

river shifts and flooding,

will fit us in perspective

in the downhill slide of time.

In this they will be right.

But will they see the causes,

our greed and wastefulness?

I hope they see it was our fault.

I hope they damn us,

if we’re not yet damned enough.

~

So much for them to find here.

Our landfills are treasure troves.

With mounds of plastic objects,

They’re a picture quite fantastic.

They’re the temples of our towns.

~

The yellow ducks they find will be widespread and many.

They’ll be noted by every kind of scientist seeking the profound.  

They will debate what we worshipped, loved or blamed.

Stories will abound.

~

Nothing is apparent.

There will be no links to bathrooms,

soap or thick, soft towels.

These things won’t be transparent.

They will think we took our last breath of burning air and fire

and poured it into prayer

to the plastic Duck of Doom

to turn the threatening tides.

~

For all the good we’re doing,

I guess we may as well.

© A.Chakir 2023