Earthlings

Once upon a time
There was a celestial body
Third in line from the sun
Its surface covered in swathes
Of emerald green
And cerulean blue

Its obsidian night sky
Illuminated by a sea of stars
Could transform itself into vibrant blues
With stretches of white cotton

Evenings crackled to life with the whisper of insects
Mornings were met by the trill of songbirds

Animals could find shelter all over
Beneath the canopy of a rainforest
In the depths of the vast ocean
Even under the scorching sun

The body was a pleasant home
For flora and fauna
As well as humans

The water was safe to drink
The air was clean to breathe
What more could you ask for?

But alas, humans were foolish creatures
Their eyes glinted
At the sight of green paper
Instead of green trees
These blind creatures couldn’t see
The treasure they already possessed

Hungry for power and control
They encroached upon nature
Slowly ravaging the planet
Until there was nothing left to salvage

There was no happily ever after
For the inhabitants of Earth.

By Anum Ilyas