What is this future wanting to emerge?

Grind, chew, swallow, shit
           we smear the wipe of excrement
                 across the 17 corners of Earth.

Earth gave us iron. We bent it into:

• teeth to shear wood
• claws to dig vast mire
• barrels to impregnate flesh
• with rending lead hemorrhage
• nerve strings to conduct impulse
• winged cages vaulting heaven.

Earth gave us clay. We molded it into:

• cloaks to confine horizon
• canals to coerce water
• pavement to conduct movement
• crop lands to cultivate
• mounds to conceal the dead.

Earth gave us water. We enslaved it with:

• dams to spin turbines
• pipes to plumb
• bottles to beverage
• vats to vaporize
• sewers to sanctify.

Earth gave us wood. We:

• chopped, burnt, mowed
• tilled, sprouted
• ginned cotton
• fabricated
• gene spliced 
• patent protected.

Earth gave us fuel. We:

• burnt it. let fly
• ash and soot,
• black fly swarms upon sky
• streets of smoke trailing
• down the wind, spreading
•  grey-green haze
• ever cross dusking ridge horizon.

We took. We built. We mixed, molded.
We tore, we razed, we cratered hilltops.
We sprawled. We trampled. We tilled and butchered.
We fractured acre. We chased fond wish
                                     in clumsy mimic, ever
                                     marshaling more machine.

Pliant earth has bent to our will,
          proffered bounties
          knelt in sacrifice, before our
                                                  sword and alter.

We got what we wanted.

Now, earth shrouds. Veils clothe her.
         glimmer of the sun grows shy,
         retreats beyond.
         Her breath expelled,
                a long and gentle        peaceful
                                              exhalation
         fogs the spectacles of our race.

         This pause that blinds
         has quelled our mind,
         drawn us down in slumber grey wool,
                         foresight paralyzed
                         whilst dreams of all the
                                    vast panoply
                                    spin emptily,
                                    like vacant Ferris wheels.

Enmeshed in our distraction, we hardly hear
         groan and thud: Earth's
                   crumpling collapse.
                   Fires of depletion lick along
                   rusted rim of morrow.
         Planetary shudder flattens
                   fantasy of permanence.
                   Roads buckle. Crops incinerate.
                   City of dreams engulfed in dust,
                   silencing frog
                                          and skylark.

         Rumpelstiltskin returns,
                   demanding recompense.
         Bumpy ride awaits:
                   many will lose lunch.

How shall we shoulder
         the harrows of this future?
How presence the precious?
How heal the raw wounds:
         sliced palms
         impaled ventricles
         battered brains?

Kindness is our key.
In every moment, every intent,
              may kindness be the guide.
May we unfurl this frond
              unwrapt in tiny leaflets
                            of gentle grace.
May genuine heart of sadness
              melt wracked missiles of malice.
May the kindness of the soft soil,
              the tender yarrow,
              the sweet song of sky's rejoice,
              the mild balm of kindness

clear the heaven, cleanse the water,
heal the Earth, heal human heart!