On The Limitations Of Bumper Sticker Idealism – June 16, 2010
To all professors, teachers and those who preach Green life
To those who tell us what we should and shouldn’t do
To cause our Earth more strife
You look down your noses at us all
Saying tsk tsk for our faults
But practice what you preach, I say
Because it’s you that’s dropping the ball
Shame on you for wagging your tongue and finger at us
When you’re too good to ride on the bus
But drive the mile to teach your class
In an old pollutin’ vehicle sucking on gas
You mow your lawn with a gas-powered mower
Not electric or hand-pushed
And usually finish it off with an old smelly gas blower
You drive your old car
To take your kids to school
You know that the school bus
Passes by your own house you fool
How old is the heating system in your house, I ask?
Oh you can’t remember you say?
So let me put you to the task:
It probably needs to be replaced right away
Your old boat is docked at a bay
Oh so far away
It runs on stinking diesel
And sounds oh-so-peaceful
For that beautiful bay
I love your Save Mother Earth bumper sticker
Placed just above your tailpipe
That spews exhaust and makes the roads just a little slicker
Does your home run on solar?
That I do not know
But I bet you dollars to doughnuts
The answer is probably no
I have seen you at the market
Picking up one or two things that day
Then driving away in your polluting car
Living less than a mile away
So before you wag your tongue at me
I suggest you look around
Because just as much fault you see
With you can sure be found
I bet when you look in the mirror you will see
That you are guilty
If not guiltier of polluting more than me
D.M. Kelley
Arcata
