POLYCRISIS
commentary
In this poem I focus on the vast size and scale of the more-than-human, and the insignificance of humans in comparison. This is juxtaposed with our own delusions of self-importance – humans have historically seen earth as the centre of the universe, and humanity as the ‘pinnacle of creation’.
My intention was to tap into what Romantic era poets and artists called ‘the sublime’: wilder aspects of nature that are simultaneously beautiful, powerful, awe-inspiring, uncontrollable, and terrifying. In evoking this energy, I’m metaphorically referring to the out-of-control nature of the multiple crises we face as a species – the Polycrisis of the title, which encompasses climate and biodiversity, pandemics, war, political extremism, etc. We may think we have our feet planted firmly on the ground, and that we have a handle on ‘something as slippery as control’, but in reality, these crises are expanding chaotically in every direction.
I attempted to portray this by showing the natural world expanding both outwards and inwards. We can zoom out into space and see that earth is just a pinprick, and we can also zoom in with a microscope and find just as much vastness in the other direction – when we think of cells and atoms, and also when we consider networks of bacteria and mycelium. As the poem progresses, the stanzas which hug the left of the page are human-centric and describe our religions, power structures, and scientific achievements (all futile attempts to keep a grip on things), while the alternate stanzas (which are also less ‘fixed’ on the left of the page) portray more of the non-human world. The intention here is to contrast how much we think we know with how little we do know in reality, and ultimately to show that the non-human world is far more ‘in control’ than we will ever be.
You will find a Google word doc accessible version of this feature here.
With thanks to the Poetry School.
Mel White is a page poet, spoken-word artist, and activist/artivist based in Cloughjordan Ecovillage in Ireland. Her poems have won awards at Cuirt Festival Of Literature, Eigse Michael Hartnett, Tower Poetry Slam, and Westport Arts Festival. Publications include Crannóg, Boyne Berries, and The Ogham Stone. Her poetry can also be found at www.youtube.com/@melwhite9347/playlists
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