How Long Do You Think the Human Race Will Exist?

I don't worry much about humanity,
my wife replies. I think that we'll evolve.
Ecclesiastes tells me all is vanity,

that nothing new will happen for eternity,
and yet. . .I think we're starting to dissolve.
I don't worry—much. About humanity:

what will be lost, if we're lost? Not infinity.
What now revolves around us will revolve.
Ecclesiastes tells me all is vanity:

one person saves a mint, one saves a manatee,
ho-hum go on—do something, get involved,
don't worry much about humanity,

decide upon some charity, a sanity.
But there are sweet things: sex, worship, resolve. . .
Ecclesiastes tells me all is vanity.

Science predicts that bees or giant ants will be
Earth's next bigwigs. No egos, none to solve
for "I." Don't worry much about humanity,
Ecclesiastes tells me. All is vanity.

Copyright © 2004 Emily Lloyd All rights reserved
from The Most Daring of Transplants
Argonne House Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission