One hundred million years,

From cavemen to Homo Sapiens,

Dinosaurs to zebras,

Pangaea to the seven continents,

The coral reef has been around for all of it.

 

One of the oldest things on Earth,

Is also one of the fastest to disappear.

The things that we hold so dear to our hearts

Are killing an ecosystem that holds

So much beauty and life and color,

What will happen, you ask?

 

The eels that slither around will die,

Because there is nowhere for them to make a home

The sharks will perish,

Because there is no food for them to eat.

The crabs will starve,

Because there is nowhere for algae to settle.

 

The sponges that your mother uses to clean her kitchen,

Will no longer be available

because there is nowhere for them to develop.

The background of the coral reef on

Your prized laptop will never be seen by our children.

 

The shore will be bombarded with waves that

Could sweep away our economies in less than a minute,

Along with the promise of an ocean filled with

Carbon Dioxide,

Creating a bleak, black, and barren landscape

That spans hundreds of miles and connects our continents.

 

The fishing economy will crash,

Exactly like the limestone miles under the sea.

Sushi will cease to exist,

As there would be no seaweed, roe, or fish to create a roll.

The state of Maine will suffer large losses owing to low levels of lobster.

And don’t get me started on travel.

Scuba diving will serve no purpose,

Snorkeling will show nothing interesting,

Starfish and seashells will not appear on the shore.

 

I beg those who will listen to take a stand against the

Horrors of the diminishing ecosystem that means so much to the world.

Sign a petition, pass a law, talk to friends,

But most importantly,

Ask questions.

Ask what you can do to improve the chances of saving this

Wonderful, worthy, and watery world

That we depend on so dearly.