10,000 years for each earth citizen - john tiong chunghoo

the earth has enough years
to give every of its citizens
10,000 years or more
to live alone on the planet

and as many more years
left over for every animal to enjoy
the whole planet on its own

the earth is a kind old man
lost in arithmetics
with too many of its citizens
lost in impatience

they squeeze the earth
into a little time box
suffocate it with inventions
and willingly lead it
down the road of destructions

the earth has enough years
to give every of its citizens
10,000 years or more
to live alone on the planet

---

john tiong chunghoo (born 1960) Sarawak (Malaysia)

Source: Poetry a Celebration of Life