Tea

                                                 

How could rich Texas tea

Cost as much as a steaming cup of Starbucks coffee?

Crude oil

Dug from deep inside Mother’s belly. 

Cesarean sections performed

Without her permission. 

Black gold from around the world

Stored in mammoth freighters

Comes to our land.

As if this rich thick oil is real gold

To wear on our wrists and around our necks.

The black tar transforms into an albatross

Weighing us down.

We pay the price

To heat our homes

To move our cars

To keep money in the pockets of oil barons.

And then

There is the dawn.

Fiery flames, so far away in the cold galaxy

Warm our planet.

How good the sun feels on

My body.

Apollo, the magician does his magic tricks

Gives us his fortune for free.

Solar panels reflect on roofs,

Absorbing the gift of the sun. 

My house stays warm.

My tub fills with heavenly, hot water

I prefer sun tea.

Marilyn London-Ewing
March 2012