The People With No Sun In Them

The people with no sun in them
(Unpublished poem copyright © 2021 by Alice Walker)

Imagine what the Balinese princes and princesses
Thought
When they encountered
The people with no sun
In them
Who arrived
To take every bit of their gold
From them.
Finally, understanding
The sun was all they wanted-
Though not the one
in the sky
which somehow bounced
off
of them;
these nobles flung
all their glittering objects
& especially their gold
at their pursuers,
before being slaughtered.
They recognized it was the representation
Of sun on earth
That the beings
With no sun
In them wanted.
Here is a lesson
For us:
Whoever these beings are,
It is clear by now
That gold, their notion
Of Sun
Is all they want
From Earth.
They are killing her
For it
And everything
Along with her.
I do not say
I know this is our only
Course,
But perhaps we should learn
From the Balinese princes and princesses
& simply fling
Toward them
-even while laughing –
All the gold and glittering
Things they so desire
That they are taking
Anyhow.

***

On the other hand, Earth needs her gold; for all we know it is gold that regulates Her heartbeat.   Her climate overall.  Sharing it with those who are respectful might have been Earth’s dream before the nightmare humans came. Suppose Gold is quite aware of  living with and protecting us from  climate change that leads to fires.  Suppose Gold is also aware and conscious of its slaughter.  We must forge a new relationship with Gold. With Earth. Or is it – as bombs are made and fall, also made of what Earth needs for Herself – too late?~aw