surely

surely,
    we have committed
          many sins against
                our earth...
          have plundered her
green innocence
          ...torn the golden riches
               from her heart
& flayed her
          bright-furry angels.

now
    the sky is ill.
          we have made the sky ill.
               we all know this is true
& say nothing.

mother,
    protect us from
          botching your sky.
               let the clouds remain
    unstained.
allow us always to see
the sun.