Beneath the surface
In the depths of the ocean
Animals suffer
Eating plastic that clogs lungs
Suffering in innocence
Above the surface
Birds strive to feed family
Plastic, not good food
They die with plastic inside
Not knowing what else to feed
Beside the surface
Humans don’t know it’s in food
Plastic in small forms
Waste recycled in our prey
This issue can’t be denied
This Tanka was inspired after I watched “A Plastic Ocean” on Netflix. Seeing scientists dissect dead animals filled with plastic and hearing how small particles of plastic reach our food and water was quite disturbing. Plastic is no small issue that can be denied, it’s a part of illness today. Humanity has been lucky to see the effect of plastic in other animals first and we must try our best to resolve it instead of looking away.
Astrid's Words 