Relics of the Ages of Reason

1 – 1700s
White pine and oak—
mast and keel of Earth
harvested en masse
to rot in sunken ships.

Treasures and tastes of Asia—
adornments of cultures
harvested en masse
to rot in sunken ships.

Whole populations of Africa,
broken soul of a continent—
harvested en masse
to rot in sunken ships.

The peoples of the Americas
harvested en masse—
Glory, God and Gold
sunk in rotten ships.

2 – 2000s
Polyester yachts, all the poisonous
detritus of chemical discoveries
harvested en masse
by the innocent oceans—

the unsinkable rot
of a sinking species

Richard Fenton Sederstrom was raised and lives in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and the North Woods of Minnesota. Sederstrom is the author of eight books of poetry, his latest book, The Dun Book, published by Jackpine Writers' Bloc, was released last fall. Read other articles by Richard Fenton.