We Are Itna may paaralan sa di kalayuan Paalala na may mga batang nagsisitawid— Ang wala ay...
Transcript of We Are Itna may paaralan sa di kalayuan Paalala na may mga batang nagsisitawid— Ang wala ay...
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