“What does it mean?”
“Not a damn thing.
Don’t talk to me about
sustainability in a nation
gone from natural wilderness
to wilderness of our own making
in less than two hundred years.
Talk to be about money and profit
and comfort if you want to talk
the truth.”
“Don’t you believe it’s important
to protect our environment?”
“Raise the price and everyone
becomes a conservationist.
Punish those who poison
others and everyone is
environmentally aware.”
“We need to be so careful.”
“We need to be so bold and brave and
aggressive. We need to be
adventuresome and willing to
dismantle what doesn’t work for parts
to make it work for others,
not something new to please ourselves.”
“Sustainability is the answer.”
“Sustainability is the status quo.
If you want to talk sustainability,
talk kids who finish high school,
go to college and raise a family.
Talk couples married fifty or sixty years.
Talk cars that last or land
that doesn’t get paved in homage to them.
Talk walking through
neighborhoods without fear.
Talk to a doctor who doesn’t
remind you of a banker.
Talk inventiveness,
discovery and creativity.
Talk victory
or don’t talk to me at all.
♠