Here’s a poem about the last day of the world.

W. S. Merwin, “Place”

 

On the last day of the world

I would want to plant a tree

 

what for

not for the fruit

 

the tree that bears the fruit

is not the one that was planted

 

I want the tree that stands

in the earth for the first time

 

with the sun already

going down

 

and the water

touching its roots

 

in the earth full of the dead

and the clouds passing

 

one by one

over its leaves

And here’s my poem in response:

“On the Last Day of the World”

On the last day of the world

I would want to swallow dirt

 

what for

not for the dirt

 

to thank this sweet earth

for the gift and miracle

 

to bow to my debt

to take this earth into my body

 

as earth will

at sunset

on the last day of the world

fold me into hers

 

and the stars appearing

one by one

 

singing

 

~Barb Morris, after W. S. Merwin’s “Place”

What would you do on the last day of the world? Feel free to respond in prose form!

photo credit: raphael nogueira on unsplash