I Am Plastic
By
Kevin Tresselt
I
am plastic.
I
pollute the sea,
With
bags, bath toys, traffic cones, jugs, and other debris.
Along
with my friends, I create a huge plastic gyre,
Covering
up large portions of the ocean, so it no longer looks sapphire.
I
am plastic.
Created
to withstand fire and bending,
The
chemicals that help me are scarier than uncontrolled government spending.
The
toxins within me can cause cancer within you and your brethren,
And
create countless future problems for all of your children.
I
am plastic.
I
can barely be seen,
Because
I am the nurdles that act so mean.
I
absorb pollution, like a supersaturated poison pill,
Waiting
to be eaten by a big fish with no will.
I
am plastic.
Can
you guess how I move?
Not
by boats, ships, or the usual groove.
I
get dumped on land, where the wind picks me up,
Then
travel down streams to the ocean with my fellow cups.
I
am plastic.
Believe
it or not,
I
used to be as valued and admired as a beautiful yacht.
I’ve
given people credit cards, spandex pants, and medicine breakthroughs,
But
today people hate me, and I rarely receive a simple thank you.
I
am plastic.
Everyone
uses me,
And
while people are learning how to fix my problems, there are no guarantees.
Yes,
scientists are trying to identify and remove me through major endeavors,
Unfortunately
I will never breakdown; I’ll be here forever.
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Description of Poem
This poem acts as a reflection of the giant plastic gyres that have been created in many of Earth's oceans. The poem portrays the damaging effects of these pools of plastic, including negative effects on humans as well as other animals. While the poem does defend plastic at one point, noting its usefulness when it was first created, it quickly refutes this. In effect, the poem warns people of the dangers that plastic items impose, and that something must be done to address this large problem.
