POEM FOR AN ECO-MARXIST by Meara Levezow

of approximately 57% bacteria,

43% human cells,

yet only humans

have representation in Congress.

 

The biosphere is not yet a political actor,

but some Sundays you’ll see

microorganisms lining up

at the post office,

loosening their ties,

swapping jokes like:

knock knock,

who’s there? 

late-stage capitalism.

Ha.

 

Explaining our economy

to an alien: I told her, ‘you get rich

burning carbon, which destroys our planet.

Permanently destroying our habitat

for short-lived pleasure is the order

of the day’.

 

Sort of like making a deal

with the Devil where if you

cut off your feet you can fly

for a month,

but then for the rest of your life

you have no feet.

 

But what a month.