State of the Planet

The State of The Planet was written for the 50^th anniversary of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory by author and Professor Robert Hass. The Lamont Observatory is an observatory that specializes in the study and research of the earth; they research everything from the core to the outer atmosphere looking for insight and revelation about anything and everything. The scientist’s in the observatory study information, from the past, present and future looking for ways to enhance our planet. Robert was almost overwhelmed when he was presented by the challenge of writing a poem so broad. Then he said he was inspired by the innocence of a girl he saw walking. This poem discusses a lot about our earth and how we as humans are destroying it and taking advantage of all the good it gives to us. The poem discusses specific parts about specific things to enhance our understanding about the intimacy and the detail nature holds. He continues to write about that humans are always looking for ways to take from the earth, as if the earth owes us something. We are always trying to produce more crops from the land, or take more fish out of the water, it is never enough. But in the end what are we giving back, are restoring it as much as we are destroying it? More than a couple times he makes reference as if he is speaking to Lucretius, who was a known philosopher who was consumed with the importance and beauty of the earth and nature. He writes as a plea to him, explaining our current position with how we are treating our planet, and almost asking him for help. He speaks about the science that we have to divide cells, but we are still destroying our planet. We use nature in order to enhance our human bodies, while in the end we become the earth as well. Through this poem I felt a lot of emotion from the writer I felt as though he really had a heart for his work and he wanted to get the urgency across to his reader, which I believe he fulfilled.