Summary

"No One Can Breathe" is a poignant poem by Jenny Justice that addresses the dire consequences of climate change and the societal indifference to the ongoing environmental crisis.

Abstract

The poem "No One Can Breathe" by Jenny Justice is a powerful commentary on the current state of the environment, emphasizing the pervasive air pollution and the relentless pressure of societal and economic demands. It paints a vivid picture of a world where both the atmosphere and the oceans are suffocating, highlighting the irony that despite the planet literally burning, the wheels of commerce continue to turn, and life's routines persist. The poem suggests that humanity's preoccupation with financial obligations and the anthropocentric nature of our concerns have blinded us to the immediate and existential threat of ecological collapse. Justice's work calls for a reevaluation of our priorities, questioning a system that fails to acknowledge the gravity of a world on fire, and implores readers to recognize the interconnectedness of all life forms, as the suffocation felt on land is mirrored in the oceans with declining oxygen levels and growing dead zones.

Opinions

The author expresses frustration with society's relentless focus on business and financial transactions, which continue despite the environmental crisis.
There is a critique of the healthcare system, which historically has treated individuals without adequately addressing the broader environmental context that affects health.
The poem conveys a sense of urgency about climate change, emphasizing that it is not a distant threat but a present reality that is already causing harm.
Jenny Justice points out the anthropocentric viewpoint that dominates societal concerns, suggesting that this narrow focus is detrimental to the planet and all its inhabitants.
The poem suggests that the current environmental crisis is a result of human actions and inactions, and that it is a moral failing to prioritize economic interests over the health of the planet.
The author highlights the interconnectedness of ecosystems, drawing a parallel between the suffering of terrestrial and marine life due to human-induced environmental degradation.

No One Can Breathe

A Poem

No one can breathe anymore no one can breathe the air here the air there is red is fire is smoke

the air here the air there is poison is toxins is fumes no one can breathe anymore but bills demand to be paid

no matter if the sky is dull red no matter if the sun’s own fire is dimmed

no matter if the ground is crisp and brittle, cracked and afraid. No,

no one can breathe anymore but business is always the only show that must go on

toxins falling from the sky, ashes ashes everything falls down and yet the clocks remind, the bank account cries

and this is what it is to feel crazy to demand answers to questions that the system cannot compute

how business and money and bills, rent and food, somehow don’t stop when the world stops, somehow don’t let us

off the hook out of the squeeze away from the grip when the earth is literally burning and melting and ending

before our very eyes day after day place after place and this is not enough

we could never breathe before, we just did not know it there were pills to take and professionals to see, trying to

fix people up so they would fit in with a system that did not consider a world on fire as

something to interfere with your day job as worrisome enough to feel a bit anxious over

but even then even then look at this — look at how self-centered how Anthropocene human-centric these worries are,

because down in the ocean, way down underwater, bumping along the ocean floor,

no smoke, no fire just suffocation as fish and coral and all living creatures

struggle to breathe as the oceans warm as

oxygen decreases = breathing decreases

dead zones grow

as above so below

Jenny Justice is a poet mom who longs to bring poetry to life in ways that spark empathy, connection, joy, and feeling. She loves writing love poems, climate change awareness poems, poems for kids, and of course, poems about poetry and poets. You can follow her on Medium and at Jenny Justice, Writer and support her poetry at Justice Poetic. You can also support her on Patreon and sign up for her poem a week newsletter here — thank you!

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