WE ARE IT

Eileen R. Tabios Dusie, 2019

Inheressay“somewhereinbetween:Speaking-ThroughContiguity”,MartheReed(1959-2018)directsustoTimothyMorton’sreframingofhuman/other-than-humanrelationshipsas“drasticallycollective”—“Allkindsofbeings,fromtoxicwastetoseasnails,areclamoringforourscientific,political,andartisticattention.”“Escapefromthistruthliesthroughnodoorway,noslipperyconstructoflanguageorargument:‘we’are‘it,’inextricablefromourcircumstances.Thepointonwhichallelseturns:withinthis‘drasticallycollective’condition,how,then…live?Indeed,howwrite?”—MartheReed,Counter-Desecration:AGlossaryforWritingWithintheAnthropocene

CONTENTSASamplingofClamoursLetterfromSarayakuMarawi’sPets

—trans.toFilipino:“MgaAlagangHayopSaMarawi”byAileenIbardalozaCassinetto

TheFloodingThatWritesItselfSelectedWitnessingsWitnessedintheConvexMirror:HistoryWitnessedintheConvexMirror:AnthropoceneWitnessedintheConvexMirror:“LivingintheMicro,NotMacro”WitnessedintheConvexMirror:“Narcissism”WitnessedintheConvexMirror:RavishedintheRawWitnessedintheConvexMirror:AWinterHuntWitnessedintheConvexMirror:Eggs,Seeds,OrNotWitnessedintheConvexMirror:Assymetry,APerfumeWitnessedintheConvexMirror:Sudan,FocusedandUnfocusedWitnessedintheConvexMirror:GracelessDaysWitnessedintheConvexMirror:TheScentofaMeltingIcebergWitnessedintheConvexMirror:Don’tMakeUpTheOceanWitnessedintheConvexMirror:“Lord,PleaseForgiveThemForTheyKnowNotWhatTheyDo”Acknowledgements

ASAMPLINGOFCLAMOURS

LetterfromSarayaku

Ecuador’sgovernmentignoredthecommunity’srefusaltoselloil-drillingrightsandsignedacontractin1996withtheArgentinianoilcompanyC.G.C.toexploreforoilinSarayaku.In2003,C.G.C.petroleros—oilworkersandprivatesecurityguards—andEcuadoriansoldierscamebyhelicoptertolayexplosivesanddigtestwells.//Sarayakumobilized.

Brownastheearthfromwhichyousurfaced earthwerelishedyourskinaswewashedeachofyouWerelishedyourskinaswepeeleditoff skineachofyoutorevealthecolorofthesunWerelishedsunlight’scomplexionaswesliced sunlightyourmud-kissedbodyintostripsforourteethOurteethchewedandchewedtheslices teethofyourbody,mixingthemwithoursalivaOursalivawasourcontributionandwarning salivaforthosetowhomweservedyourbodiesKnowingwhowewouldserve,wespitenzymesfor enzymesyourbodiesintoabowl.Yourbodiesthenfermentedforhoursuntilyourfleshbecamejuicelookinglike flesh“defattedmilk,”asurfaceevokingthesheenofcataracts,aptforhearkeningtheblindmenwhosoughtoilfrom oilourgroundbydestroyingthesourceofthetreasuretheydesired.Wechewedandbathedyourbodieswith bodiesoursaliva—wegavefreelyfromourownbodiesforweshouldnotprotectfromadistance.Youarethesource sourceofourlives:water,fruitsandvegetables,insects,animals—ajunglethatdeservesharmonyfromthosetowhomyou junglegivelife.Sowethankyou,Nature,fordonatingthecassavas.Withourspit,wecreatedchichaforthepetroleros.They chichapartiedallnightwithyourcassavasandoursaliva.Whentheywoke,theywoketothemuzzlesoftheirguns gunsheldstronglyinourarms.Warnedoffourancestrallands,

theyneverreturned.Anoceanaway,severalyearslater, oceanapoemsurfaceswithoutaddressingthetorture,rapeandothersufferingofthepeople,“especiallymothers mothersandchildren.”Instead,focusalightsonhownatureandhumanscooperatedfor“sumackawsay,”thepresumption humansonemustlivepeacefullywiththenaturalworldandinsistnaturehasrightsdeservingofprotection.Notonlyisthis naturealawofthejungle,itholdsthekeyfortheplanet’ssurvival.“It’snotabigthing,”saysaSarayakuelder,hishairdecorated Sarayakuwithbluebirdwings.“It’sjust tocontinueliving.”

In2008,Ecuador’sconstitutionbecamethefirstintheworldtocodifytherightsofnatureandspecificallysumakkawsay.Bolivia’sconstitutionhasasimilarprovision,andrights-of-natureordinanceshavebeenpassedincommunitiesintheUnitedStates.

Marawi’sPets

“Morethan200,000residentsmanagedtoflee…”—from“Timestandsstillondesertedstreetsofwar-tornMarawi”byJackBoard,ChannelNewsAsia,June20,2017

Somehow,italwayscomesdownontheanimals—thepetsbecomefeeblebutstillturntheirheadshereandtherelookingforthehandsoftenbehindthebowlsandwhichpettedandcuddled—Theywanderemptiedstreetswhosesignsrecalllivesnowevaporated—Oneposterproclaims“Congratulations,Graduate!”AnothersignbeckonsforhealthexaminationsYetanotherindicatesaschoolroadcrossing—Absenceaspresence—resultinginapuppypockmarkingatornroad,fliesbuzzingarounditstoo-tinycorpse—Liketheorphanedanimals,pagestornoffcalendarsrippedfrombombardedwallsfloatthroughthe

sameforsakenstreets—Theywillnolongerbearmarksofanticipationafterfailingtogivewarningwithredinkandcapitals“INVASION!”Nooneissparedthisrupturefromhomeswhoseheartshadbeenlargeenoughtowelcomeanimals—Somehow,italwayscomesdownontheanimals—

Apuppylefttotheblackcloudoffeastingflies—

Somehow,italwayscomesdownontheinnocent

MgaAlagangHayopSaMarawi(“Marawi’sPets”translatedtoFilipinobyAileenIbardalozaCassinetto)

"Mahigitdalawangdaangliboanglumikas..."(“Timestandsstillondesertedstreetsofwar-tornMarawi")—JackBoard,ChannelNewsAsia,June20,2017

Tilabagaanglagingkinababagsakanaymgahayop—Silangpinanghihinanaanna,aypilitpanginililingaanguloupanghanapinparu'tparitoangmgakamaysalikodngmangkoknaminsanghumimas,minsangumaruga—Nilibotangmgakalyengkakabmgahudyatnglumaho—Maykaratulangnaghahayag,"Maligayangbatisanagtapos!"MayisanamangnagaanyayangmagpasurisamangagagamotAtnariyandinangpalatandaannamaypaaralansadikalayuanPaalalanamaymgabatangnagsisitawid—Angwalaaynarito—Nagbubungangisangbilotnabumabakatsaisangdaanggulanit,mgalangawnahumihigingpaikotsabangkaynaubodliit—Tuladngmganaulilanghayop,angmgapahinangpinunitsakalindaryonapinigtas

samganahagupitnadingdingaylumalaboysamgadaangnilimot—Dinasilamagtataglayngmgamarkangpaghihintaymataposmakaligtaangmagbigayngbabalanadapatayisinulatsapulangtintaatmalalakingletra,"MANLULUSOB!"Walangnailigtassawasaknamgatahanangnagbukasloobmgapintuangibinukassamgahayop—Tilabagaanglagingkinababagsakanaymgahayop—

Isangbilotaynaiwansamaitimnaulapngnagpipistangmgalangaw—

Tilabagaanglagingkinababagsakanayangwalangmalay.

TheFloodingThatWritesItself

MudslidesbroughtaboutbyweeksofheavyrainsalmostburiedthevillageofGuinsaugoninSouthernLeyte,Philippines.Gov.RosetteLeriassaidmostofthosefeareddeadwereschoolchildrenwhowereattendingclassesattheGuisajogonelementaryschoolwhenthelandslideoccurred.“Itsoundedlikethemountainexplodedandthewholethingcrumbled,”asurvivorsaid,afterwatchinghisentirevillageburiedunderinmud.“Icouldnotseeanyhousestanding,”DarioLibatantolddzMMradio."ThePhilippineshasgonefromamajortimberproducingcountrytoonewheretheyimporttimber,"[forestryconsultantHughSpeechly]said,addingthatinthe1930s,beforeitbeganseriouslogging,thenationhadseveralmillionhectaresofforestcover,comparedwithonlyabout600,000untouchedhectarestoday.—newsaccountsfromBBCNews,ManilaStandard,Malaya,PhilippineInquirerandNewYorkTimes,February17-20,2006

Icouldnotteachwhattheyrefusedtohear.Itissodarkanddampandcold.Iwantedtoteachhowmountainsexplodelikepeople—thatabusetakesmanyforms.Howlongwillthisairlast?Icanbarelyseethelightfrommymobilephone—didsomeonehearmywordstext-edoutaboutthegrowingdimnesshere?

“Ma’am,wearestillundertheschool.Pleasehelpus,Ma’am.ThisisEdilioCoquilla.PleaseMa’am.”

Thechildrenhavenotevenbeganfirstgrade.

Iheartheirfingersscratchingsoundslikerestless“insectsorrunningwater”—willtherescuersbefooled?Arethererescuersabovethiscollapsedearth?Icouldnotteachthedeaftolisten.No,notlessonsabouttheenvironment—howtreesprotectlandfromslidingdownintofarawayseas.Icouldnotteachtheguardianswholovedtocallthemselves“guardians”ofthefuture:childrennowinhalingmudbecomemud.Icouldnotteachpoliticianstoceasecorruption—togrowenvironmentswheremountainscanexistdespitethehungerofhumandenizens.IcouldnotteachhowHungerbecomesadiseasewhenwefeedourselveswithourchildren.Thislessonisnotaboutmountainslosingtheirtreessopeoplecaneat.Thelessonisaboutapoetwritingapoemonadeskcarvedfroman“endangeredspecies”smuggledoutintoalandrepletewithsnowthroughbribestoamayor,ageneral,adockinspector

apaper-pushing“facilitator”andhisadministrativeassistant.AndhowIshallbethirstyFortherestofmylifenomatterhowmuchwaterIdrinkanddrinktryingtoreleasethetasteofmudspewedoutinGuinsaugon,Leyte,PhilippinesonFebruary17,2006.

SELECTEDWITNESSINGS

From“TheAshberyRiff-Offs”whereeachpoembeginswith1or1-2linesfrom

“Self-PortraitinaConvexMirror”byJohnAshbery

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:HistoryEyebeams,muslin,coral.Itdoesn’tmatterbecausethesethingsarewhattheyaretodayandmadelargerthantheyarebytheindolenceofourimagination.Weimbueobjectswithworthasdeterminedbytheartificeofscarcity—asifeyebeamscansupplanttheresultsofscholarlyresearch,asifmuslincanbeseparatedfromitscityoforigin,asifcoralcanbelongatopmarblepedestalsinsomecornerofaskyscraper’smahogany-walledconferenceterroir.Webreakprovenancestralwisdombytakingmorefromthelandthanwhatwegivebacktoit.Thenwescartheplanetagainwithlaboratory-madepollutantsimpossibletocompost.Whenwepausetoliftourprotectivevisorsfromdecimatingfish,plants,andbirds,wesipchilledchemicalsforwaterisnolongersafe.ThenwecontextualizeabuseassomeinevitablepathofanabstractionwelabelHistorytomaskourbruteexerciseofapowerweshallneverhold.Darling,evenyouareindigenous.Darling,youshallpay

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:Anthropocene—forTimothyMorton

Thingsthatdon’tseemfamiliarwhenwemeetthemagain,lostbeyondtelling,likethecyborgswe’vebecomewhen,inanalyzingourDNA,wediscoversignificantmaterialfromviruses.Nowonderlakesbecomedeserts,orcitiessubmerge.Animagecatchesyoureyeandyouthink,“Whatalovelypatternpainting!”Butuponapproachingyourealizeitsbeautyishard-earned:thephotographerhadshotthegroundofadried-outreservoirinNorthKorea—whatyouthoughtwerebrushmarksareconcretecracks.Aswell,it’saphotographofevaporatedwater—anotherdepressinginterpretationofabsenceaspresence.Nowadays,tocatchyourselfinthatconvexmirroristowonderwhat—notwho—isthehuman.Forwecannotavoidthis“momentofblinkingself-awareness”—wedonotonlydriveecologicaldestruction;“weknowthatweare”!Whendidself-knowledgeceasetofuelhumanprogress?Canaphilosophysurfacewithoutanysenseofmortality?Wateringlawnsisnolongeraninnocentexercise(though,wasitever,giventheartificeofalawn?).TurningontheairconditionermeansbleachingthecoralsoftheGreatBarrierReef.Yourlover’sthoughtfulgiftofseasaltforyourculinaryaffectations?Abountyofmicroplastics.Then,howtosoldieron,clearingabeachofdebriswhileanticipatingthat,soon,polyethyleneislandswilldisruptthehorizon’scleanline?HowtocopyTimothyMorton’sfaithasheexhorts,Todancediscoistobehopeful!evenasorphansincreaseinnumber?Letuslisten

thentoadoptionexperts—theyoftenadvisefamilymembersindespair:pretend,thenpretendagain.Aftermuchpractice,somedayyouwillwaketoauthenticattachment.Whenwelookbackathistory,wehavemorethanthetwochoicesofextinctionorevolution.Wehavethebrontosaurus,history’smostfamousnonexistentdinosaur—themade-upspeciesprovidedmuchpleasuretochildren,butisitnotsignificantitwasFalse?

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:“LivingIntheMicro,NotMacro”Thereseemsnospecialreasonwhythatlightshouldbefocusedonlove.We’repasttheageofboozing,drinkinganddruggingasifwealwayswillbeslim,fresh-facedandsmiling.We’renodifferentfromtheRossIceShelf(andtherestofAntarctica)astheplanetwarmsaroundit.Facedwithmortalitygazingbackatusfromthebathroommirror,wemeasuretheslacknessoffatbeltedaroundour“true”waistline.Facedwithclimatechange,scientistsmeasureicethicknessandtheshapeoftheseafloortogaugethefrozenshelf’svulnerabilitytocollapse.Once,youwhispered,“Youaremyplanet.”Whatwasaroomdimwiththeedgesofthatnightsuddenlyflaredintoasunlitspacebrightasnoon.Wecouldnothaveknownamomentsuchasthatwouldbethetipofaneconomist’scurvegraphingthe“marginalrateofreturn”—thatfromsuchapeakbeginsadescentwhereredemptionbreaksthroughtheimpliedtrajectoryonlyiflovesurfaces,allowingusoncemoretobehavewithinnocence.Thus,whereilluminationisgenerousenoughtorise,letit:reclaimlovewithitsinfinitepossibilitiesdespitethebody’sdeterioration,oursandearth’s

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:NarcissismMeonallsides,everywhereIlookIseeme,mytendencytonaginthatbird’spointedbeakopeningthensnappingasitsucksinaworm.Iseemyloveliness…butalsoaversiontosocialsettingsinthe“CasablancaLily”whichbloomsonlyasnightfalls,itssixpurplepetalswideningtorevealvermilionstamenswithcreamtattoos.IseemyfearsinthejihadistattackonanOuagadougourestaurantkilling17andwoundingeightmore—mycondolences,dearBurkinaFaso.IvisitanexhibitionbylightartistLeoVillarealwhichopensitsgallerywiththreewall-mountedworksofexposedLEDstrips.Scaledtothehumanbody,thepiecesglowandflickerinthedimness,formingabstractpatternsthatshiftinseamlessprogressions.TheCloudDrawings(2017)aretunedtothepulseofnature,suggestingmigratingwildlife:driftingamoebae,swarmsoffireflies,clustersofcumulusclouds,andripplingwater—allofitunfoldingatatemporesonantwithone’sbreath:mybreath.Obviously,theartisthadmybodaciousbodyinmind.Graciously,IreciprocateasIalwaysdowhenIlookatfineart:Iseemeonallsides,everywhereIlook

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:RavishedintheRawSiftingtheAprilsunlightforcluesInoticebudslatetotheirblossoming,aflawthatmakesonerealizesunlightoffersnoclues;itonlyrevealswhatalreadyexistedbeforeitsrandomillumination.Itslightmayrevealbudstardytobecomingplums,apricots,orpears.Therevelationmaymakeyousensitivetotheplightofbees—howchemicalsandotherhuman-madepollutionaredestroyingtheirhabitat,causingthem,inturn,todestroymorehabitat.Waralwaysspirals,unlessitdefeatsitself,thus,ends.Butit’srareforanimpulsetowanttoenditself—that’sanothertruthforwhichsunlightcannottakecredit.Towhatoneseeswhenlighttouchesdowninfrontofyou(lightlylikeaplanecontrolledbythemostseasonedpilot,ordarklylikeasuddenandunseasonalstorm),onlyyoucandecideyourresponse.Don’tbotherhiringbodyguards—theywaitonyouratherthandecideyournextmovebeforethesunsetstoleaveyouinthedarknesswhich,likeAprilandsunlight,offersnocluesastohowtocomprehendhowyou,oncepraisedbyparentsandteachersfor“brilliantpotential,”arestillsiftingthroughimagesoftheunripenedasifyouareroyal:abletocauseotherstoblossom

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:AWinterHuntThismirrorthatisnolongermineseemsdestinedtobetray.Thewindmakessnowfigurines,onlytoerasethemwithanewdirectiontoblow.Huntersandtrappersknowtolookforpawprintsbyanimalswhosurvivethroughinvisibility.Themostreliablehintofexistence,ofcourse,isspilledblood.Theanguishoflifeleakingawayisalmostimpossibletocamouflage,especiallythroughglassbenttomagnifysight.Experienceisknowingwhentotraptruthtorevealitself.Whiteptarmigansonlyneedtostandstillonsnowtohide—todelayhowtheirhearts,whenpluckedoutbythosepracticedinlucidity,glowwiththeredofhotembers.Itallseemsafairexchangewhenasuccessfulhuntmeansaprioriknowledgeforavoidingspiderholes,weakspotsonicethatonefalselythoughtwasfrozenenoughtosupportabodyandweaponry.Later,perhapswhilediningonbirdbreastsfriedwithonionsandspices,thehunterwhoexistsinallofusmightconsiderhow“spiderhole”containsanothermeaning:militaryparlanceforacamouflagedone-manfoxhole—perhapsacautionforreconsideringanearlierconclusion.Perhapsthemirror,bybendingtobeconvex,doesn’tbetraytheimageitreflects.Perhapsthemirrorbendstomagnifyreality,thus,betterelucidate

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:Eggs,Seeds,OrNotThisthing,themuteundividedpresencehasthejustificationoflogic,whichspeakstothepowerofcircles.Thisthingevokesnotthesunsosloppywithpromiscuousfingersoflightbut,theplanetscirclingitsheat.AnorbcanfloatpeaceablyalongpulledbyanOtheritdoesnotcensor.Oranorbcanbattleforcesaligningitonacertainpath,notbecausethepathisstrewnwithsharply-edgedgravelbutbecauseitdidnotchooseitspath.Oneoftheseorbsisanegg.Or,botharebutonlyoneisfertile.PoorMars—suchdeadeningfromitspersistentdesertsSomuchheatwastedfromthelackofseedsshadingthemselvesbetweenrockssmoothenedbywindtomirroreggswhenreflectionscannotprocreate

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:Assymetry,APerfumeInthefirstplace,seducedbyflowersInthesecond,asymmetryastheperfectblossomisbestservednotwieldingpetalsofthesamescale.Inthethird,thornsIf,oneeveningwheninsomniaplacesmeattheporchlookinguptocountstars,forthebottleisempty,IcatchaCasablancaLilyunfurlingitswhiteskirttorevealpurple-redstamens,IwilltreasureitsimpudenceinsteadofblameitforthereducinglightAsymmetry:thenightcontainsitsownwaysofblossomingdespitethestenchofitscriminalsmaskingamoralitythroughperfumeliquefiedfromcrushingflowerafterflower—they,whodaredblossomingwithoutthesun

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:Sudan,FocusedandUnfocusedWhichwasenoughforhispurpose:hisimageglazed,embalmed,projectedata180-degreeangletosurfacenotmerereflectionbutalsohiscontext.Ifhesmiles,wecanseethecut-upcherrypiewhosesweetnessreddenedacornertooth…inturn,wenoticethetoothtobechipped,remindingusthatwhenabullystrikeshim,heisthetypetostrikeback.Ifhefrowns,wecanseethewindowtohisroomdarkenedbyarainstorm…inturnremindingusthathelovestositinhisyardtanninghisskintoadarkamber…inturnremindingusheloveshisartisanbeers.Thegazewidenstocapturetheuniversewhosespanisinfinite,untilitisnot.Somethingalwayscatchesthegaze,makesitpause,regressintoanarrowfocus—likeGiovannaSilva’simagesofthelastmalenorthernwhiterhinocerosinhisbookGoodBoy0372:tightlycroppedphotographsofthepachyderm’sskin.Thehide“appearsasadusty,abstractland-scapeofcrevices,folds,andridges,itstopographycraggyandflaking,likebarkslowlypeelingfromatree....Attimes,thesevisualfragmentsoffercluestooursubject’sidentity:thewedgeofalargetoe;thebluntshadowofahorn—whichwascutofftodeterpoachers—thatresemblesavastcrater;asingleear,cuppedliketheblossomofacallalily.MostrevealingarephotographsofSudan’seyes,circledbywrinkles,whichpunctuatetheserieswithahintoflife.Darkandslightlywet,theyresembleoasesembeddedwithinadry,barrenterrain,wheremosquitoscometorest.”Aphotographofasingleeyefromtherhino’sfaceinprofileisparticularlycompelling,dampeningthepagewherethispoemunfoldedfromtheraretearsofapoetwho’slearnedtopretendobjectivedistancewhenevershedirectshereyesandpentohumanatrocities.Tolearntherhino’sname,“Sudan,”inturnevokescalamitiesinitscountrynamesake—awideningofthegazethatbludgeonsthewitness.Let’snarrowthefocusbacktoanimals.InSudan,21mammalspecies,ninebirdspeciesandtwoplantspeciesareendangered.Theyincludethewaldrapp,torahartebeest,slender-hornedgazelleandhawksbillturtle.TheSaharaonyxalreadybecameextinctinthewild.Tosuch

discoveries,thewitnessbecomeslikemanyotherswhooncewaxedeloquentontheadvantagesofanexpansivegaze:focusregressesand,suddenly,contextisoverrated.Still,whatartwascreatedfromthisjourneyisadmirable—weadmireSudan’simagesthenclosethebook.BredasNo.0372,whatagoodboyisSudan,hisskina“dusty,abstractlandscape”

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:GracelessDays

“Waterlilieshaveprovenespeciallyeffectiveinabsorbingheavymetalsfromthewater.”—“PlantsThatCleanWater,”KelloggGardenProducts

“Thesmallaccidentsandpleasuresofthedayasitmovedgracelesslyon”isadescriptionofdisproportion:duringagracelessday,accidentsarelargerthanpleasuresevenwhenthey’renot.Christineiswalkingaroundapond,sing-ingtothewateraftershewokethatmorningdreamingofherPhilippinechild-hood.HerdreamsrecalledtheU.S.ArmybombingaremoteatollinthePacific.“Therewasnoenemy;thearmyjustwantedtocheckonthereliabilityoftheirmissileweaponry.”Decadeslater,ChristineisanallytotheWaterWalkers,agroupfoundedbytwoAnishinawbegrandmotherstoraiseawarenessofwaterpollutionandprayforwater’swell-being.Christinetellsthisstory,onlytoconclude,“Idon’tknowhowtoendthistale.AllIknowismymothertellingme,It’salwayswomenfixingthefuck-ups.”AvisitortoChristine’spondadmirestheproliferatingwaterlilies—scarletcentersblossomingtopinkluminosity,yellowstransformingtodiscretewhitesandvioletsalsooptingformoresubtletyastheeyetravelsfromcentertopetals’outeredges.OnemightthinkofMonet’s“WaterLilies”butthatwouldheightenthepleasureofwitness.Whatweseeisnotartbutanaturalfiltrationtreatmentforamachoaccidentnotatallsmall—murdercomesinsomany,toomany,forms

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:TheScentofaMeltingIcebergThereisnootherway,andthoseassholeswhowouldconfuseeverythingwiththeirmirrorgamesruboverbulletholesandlayerpaintheavilyasifthepuncturesblossomedoninsensatewallsratherthanaculturehard-foughtintobirth.Thereisfact(gunshot)andalternative-fact(newpaintjob).Thereisfact(gunshot)andalternative-fact(“Noonewaskilled”).Thereisfact(gunshot)andalternative-fact(“Noonewasevenborn”).Buttheproblemwithamartyristhepeoplewhoenactsomeone’smartyrdom.Theyformaculturethatsurvivesbulletsandapresident’sproclamation:bulletsaresimplyeggyolks.Folks,letusnotextendthemetaphor—let’sdiscouragetheevolutionofapolitician’spaintjobintometaphoricalalkydsthat,cheapandeasytomake,expandtheexpanseofalternative-facts.Let’scallaspadeaspade.Let’scallabulletatipoftheicebergmeltingtothreateneveryonewithitspollutedwatersrepletewithtar-perfumedcarcinogens

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:Don’tMakeUpTheOceanButitislifeenglobed,sothatitcanfitonapalm—perhaps,wehope,wecanunderstandifwecanlookatlifefromafarasifwearenotpartofwhatwesee,likeamountainlookingdownonavalley.It’sauselessfantasy—still,letuslearnfrommountains!Themountainsarenotinterestedinputtingonmake-upontheplanet—nodesire,say,toenhancetheoceanwithashimmeringemeraldblushatopitssurfacetominglewithsunlightthenthreaditswaythroughthewaves—theresultingbioluminescentcolormaybeattractivetohumaneyes,butitismournedbymountainsastheygrieveoverthemeltingiceatoptheHimalayaswhoseevaporationincreasedtemperaturesuntiltheoceanbegantosuffocate—algaebloomedapalegreenblanketacrossthewaterthroughCO2emittedintotheatmosphere.Thepoisonedorganismsthenmurderedmarinepopulations.AlongtheArabianSea,wherefishingsustained120millionpeople,50tonsoffishbeachedalongthecoastofOmanstarvedforoxygen,whitebodiesfloppingwithmouthsgapingatthesun.Fishrotted.Elderschosehungertoallowchildrentoeat.Still,childreneventuallystarved—theybecamelikefishwithmouthsgapingatthesun—whatapriceforBeauty!Thusmountainsarenotinterestedinputtingonmake-upontheplanet.Listentothemountains:“Youareallbeautifulinoureyes.YoualldeservetoBreathe.”IandYoubecomebeautifulbyhonoringoursharedroots.Takemyfleshandeat—MountainOceanFishHumanAlgaeInournakedness,letusshareancestry,notlookateachotherasanOther.Wealldeservetobreatheandwecannotbutsharethesamelife-givingbreath

WitnessedintheConvexMirror:“Lord,PleaseForgiveThemForTheyKnowNotWhatTheyDo”Andnothingcanexistexceptwhat’sthere,asadvisedbythehumansergeanttohisarmyofrobotschargedwithcleaningupFukushima,siteoftheworstnucleardisastersinceChernobyl.About18,000peoplediedandmorethanamillionbuildingsfell.SixhundredtonsoftoxicfuelleakedoutofTokyoElectricPowerCompany’sreactor,creatingradiationlevelstoohighforhumanstosurvive.Thus,engineerscreated“scorpion”robotswithcamerastosurveythedamagecausedbyanearthquakeandtsunami.ScorpionsgobacktotheSilurianera430millionyearsago—adeptlyadaptingtoawiderangeofenvironmentalconditions,theynowexistonallcontinentsexceptAntarctica.Thus,theengineerswerebaffledwhentherobotsdiedastheyprobedthesiteoftheaccident.Theysentmorescorpionsbutthey,too,expired.Scientistsexplainedthephenomenaas“toomuchradiation.”Buttheengineersinsistedondescribingtherobots’demiseas“dying”—howparentsmustgrieveoverwhattheybirthed.HowGodtrulymustanguishoverus!

Acknowledgements“LetterfromSarayaku”waspreviouslypublishedinLoveinaTimeofBelligerencebyEileenR.Tabios(EditionsduCygne/SWANWorld,Paris,2017).“Marawi’sPets”wasfirstpublishedinMARAWI,afundraisingchapwithAlbertAlejoforreliefeffortsinMarawi,Philippines(PalomaPress,SanMateo,2017).GratitudetoPaloma’seditor/publisherAileenCassinettofortheFilipinotranslation.“TheFloodingThatWritesItself”waspreviouslypublishedinInternationalFeministJournalofPolitics,9:4December2007(Routledge,U.K.:Taylor&FrancisGroup)andVERSESTYPHOONYOLANDA(MeritagePress,SanFrancisco&St.Helena,2014).SELECTEDWITNESSINGSThepoemswerepreviouslypublishedinWitnessintheConvexMirrorbyEileenR.Tabios(TinFishPress,Hawai’i,2019).GracelessDaysBibliography:“MotherEarthWaterWalk”(http://www.motherearthwaterwalk.com),“PlantsThatCleanWater”at(http://www.kellogggarden.com/water-conservation/plants-that-clean-water/)andaChristineBalmespostonFacebook(Aug.4,2017)fromwhichthepoemquoteswithherpermission.WitnessedintheConvexMirror:Don’tMakeUpTheOceanBibliography:AlgaefromWikipedia(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae);“TheOceanCan’tBreathe:Mexico-SizedAlgaeBloomintheArabianSeaShouldConcernYou”byAlixandraCaoleVillainNatureWorldNews,March28,2017;and“Marinepopulationhalvedsince1970–report”,BBCNews,Sept.16,2015