While energy firms share reports to boast,
a tempest rages and assails a coast.
When weapons makers see their profits rise,
a grieving child left in a war zone dies.
Yet you still swallow car fumes on the street
to speak up for those you will never meet.
You still face middle fingers and abuse
to guard resources you will never use.
I have no hands to swipe away your tears,
pat your sore shoulder, or assuage your fears.
I only have my calm and steadfast light
to comfort your soul in the fleeting night.
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