avatarSherry Atkinson

Summary

The website content is a poignant call to action for environmental stewardship, using the metaphor of discarded roadside items like a single shoe and a crushed plastic bottle to illustrate humanity's disregard for nature and urging individuals to take responsibility for their waste.

Abstract

The article "Get Your Shoes On" and "Be Kind to Our Mother" on the website is a creative and thought-provoking piece that addresses the issue of environmental pollution. It uses vivid imagery and poetic language to draw attention to the litter that often goes unnoticed on the roadside, such as a lone shoe or a flattened bottle. The author, Sherry Atkinson, with the help of the @get_starryai app, presents a watercolor image that reflects the theme of the narrative—trash carelessly discarded, emblematic of society's neglect towards the environment. The text suggests that these neglected items are symbols of our disregard for the planet, which leaves Earth, metaphorically referred to as "Mother," in a state of sorrow. The article encourages readers to take immediate action to prevent further harm to the environment by reducing waste and not leaving the responsibility of cleanup for others. It acknowledges World Environment Day and credits Indubala Kachhawa for the prompt and Carolyn Hastings for her encouragement through her poem "Digging into Mindfulness." The piece concludes with a call to action, asking readers to be mindful of their impact on the Earth and to support writers on Medium by joining the platform.

Opinions

  • The author believes that littering is a sign of disrespect to the Earth, our shared home.
  • There is an underlying frustration towards individuals who carelessly discard their waste, such as the "disgruntled runner" or a "biker."
  • The article suggests that everyone has a role to play in preserving the environment and that individual actions can contribute to larger, positive environmental impacts.
  • It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in waste management and environmental conservation.
  • The author appreciates the contributions of Indubala Kachhawa and Carolyn Hastings in raising awareness about environmental issues through their prompts and poetry.
  • The piece promotes the idea of supporting writers and creators financially, as seen in the encouragement to join Medium through the author's referral link.

Get Your Shoes On

Be Kind to Our Mother

She is the only one we have

Created by Sherry Atkinson with @get_starryai app. Prompt: Trash washed up against the curb of a highway, trash includes a smashed plastic bottle and one tennis shoe, watercolor in the style of Andrew Wyeth

Do you ever wonder when you pass by one lone shoe in the road? Was it too heavy a load, Like the straw that broke the camel’s back, Tossed out by a disgruntled runner Who had a bad day at track?

What about the flattened plastic bottle? Did a biker hit it full throttle, discharging a murderous rage, pretending to eviscerate an arch rival like a knight on Scheherazade's page?

Unlike the heroes and sports icons, who leave us with memories to last eons, the roadside bottles and shoes only leave sweet Mother Earth singing the blues.

So pack it up! Put it up! Give stuff away! Don’t leave it for someone else to clean on another day. Show up for our Mother. Be kind to her. She’s the only one we all share. Don’t let our neglect be her saboteur.

Thank you to Indubala Kachhawa for providing this prompt to acknowledge World Environment Day. And a special thanks to Carolyn Hastings for her encouragement and for making me aware of this challenge in her poem “Digging into Midfulness”.

Get Your Shoes On
Paper Poetry
Poetry
Environmental Issues
Environment
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