In an alternate universe,
The Pacific is nuclear-free.
People forget the fallout curse
As joy uproots weeds of worry.
In an alternate universe,
All ecosystems are healthy.
Atomic harm is in reverse,
Not a single jelly baby.
In an alternate universe,
Fighter jets don’t screech across skies.
Nations endeavor to immerse
In peace instead of tangled lies.
Yet we’ll embrace that paradise
When we retake our canoes’ helm.
Through unity and sacrifice,
We’ll rebuild a promising realm.
Catherine Payne is a writer based on Guam, an island close to the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. She joins other Pacific Islanders in efforts to raise awareness about the potential threat of deep-sea mining near the Mariana Trench. She is on Instagram at @cathyapayne