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Pollution and Guilt
I’m sitting under this smokestack
Atlas with the world on his back
No one taught me how to breath
But in the middle of this panic attack
I could really use some guidance
As I wait for the world to end
Every bird and every bee and every fish and every tree
Is choking
And as I sit, watching my cat stalk blue jays across the lawn
Eating a ham sandwich
My hair still damp
From an hour-long shower
I realize that I’m part of the problem
But am I?
I am 18 years old
So, so young
Standing under the shadow of our ancient earth
I am not a corporation
I have never spilled oil into the sea
Or fractured the earth in earth in search of natural gas
But I consume the flesh of beasts
Whose farms ruin the land
And now there’s blood on my hands
And I just can’t understand
How to stop all of this hurt
I could go vegan, vegetarian
Remove the vice of veal and live on veggies and soy proteins
I could read every label
Hunt for the ingredients that are made of cruelty, and slavery
And the destruction of rainforests
But I am still just one little soul
And my carbon footprint in nothing
In comparison to Walmart and BP and every other company owned by a billionaire
Am I a bad person?
I want to be a teenager
I want to drink Starbucks, eat cheap chocolate bars
Chomp down on a fast food burger
Indulge in things
Without having to ask
Is this vegan?
Is this fair trade?
Is this organic?
Will consuming this be a sin?
If I eat this, am I a bad person?
Am I a bad person?
Am I bad?
Am I?
AM I?
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