State of the Planet.

1.

I wanted this poem to receive response similarly fashioned but the
Style is not my forte, makes me second guess and question my
work. No matter. For how does one grow without effort infused
Into the goal desired? He, or she, does not and will not. So,

Concerning the State of the Planet. Robert Hass has presented
A poetic work featuring questions and ponderings of the
Planet earth, academic undertones pressing throughout the
Artistic expression. Unafraid to acknowledge he
Asserts that, "Poetry should be able to comprehend the earth."

2.

This poetry dances with truths often unconsidered about
The deep, the pure, the humanly unknowable
Complexity of the earth. Overwhelmed would be
The minds of men if understanding of this were conceivable.

As scholarly as scientific Hass leaves me puzzled and stirs
My curiosity. Licks: revealing messages on stones.
Honeycombs with mouths: what an analogy. Electricity having sex: what an analogy.
Combining mind forces he challenges the reader into
Depth, question, thought, expansion, reality, creation.

3.

Three now and 3 in the poetry on the table. At first
Read: confusion. But I now witness Hass responding in kind to
Lucretius's penetrating poetic discussion of philosophy, nature,
Origin. Illuminated mice offer simply one specimen
Of planet stewardship since the Roman breathed and
Breathed his last.

Mystifying the unenlightened the honeycomb with mouths once
Again perplexes. Now, though, it appears that number
Five searches for remainders of evolutionary history. I
Cannot agree, though research finds Devonian times marked
The leg evolution per aquatic sources. Nonetheless, Hass
Leaves mystery unsolved lest "a honeycomb with mouths"
Connotes nothing more than its letters represent.

4.

Poetry, leeway granted, abandons "sobriety" in hopes
Of stretching creation limited by proper thoughts
Into colorful images tinted with simile, metaphor, expression.
Why can not a science lesson inform through
Means as varied as its subjects?

Why can not a man's inner thinkings concerning this fading
Earth join academia and art? They can, they do--they will.
Lucretius and Hass and unnamed souls. Fitted for its occasion the State 
Of the Planet entertains its subject; asking, unwavering, searching;
Acquiescing to wonder.