It’s an amazing material – that plastic

Poem, 5 October 2018.

I know nothing else
As bendy and elastic
as ubiquitous and fantastic
As that amazing material they call plastic.

You can make just about anything out of it
From plastic mats and plastic toys
To swanky furniture and styrofoam buoys.

You can put it into almost anything
From scrubs and glittery cosmetics
To cars, shoes and shining electronics.

You can use it to carry around and away stuff
From drinking water and Chinese takeout
To aromatic coffee, laundry and brussels sprouts.

You can use it to shrinkwrap all manner of things
From perfectly-round tomatoes and unblemished books
To spotless suitcases and leftover food.

Did I say its ubiquitous and fantastic?
That material they call plastic.

So the companies are busy
Making lots and lots of plastic
To create, cover, wrap, insert and carry
Every manner of product
We needed or could ever need
From birth to death and beyond.

And the people are busy
Using, wrapping, covering, carrying and throwing
Masses of plastic objects
Purchased or freely given
From daybreak to night and then again.

And now the land is buried
The rivers are choking
And the oceans are moaning.
Yet the deluge of indestructable plastic
Pours forth day after day, week after week
Month after month, and year after year.

Till every inch of land, water and air
On blue-green planet earth
Is filled and infested
With that everlasting material they call plastic.
Did I mention that its so ubiquitous and fantastic?