Don't Want To (Poetry)

I don’t want to be there
when they cut the trees down
I don’t want to be there
when the sky turns black
I don’t want to smell
the poison that’s spreading
I don’t want to see
the turtle on its back

I don’t want to hear
the lies so few will question
I don’t want to taste
the fear that’s in the air
I don’t want to be
a witness to the murder
when the jury has no reason
left to care

I don’t want to listen
to all those tired excuses
the blind can hear
the deaf and dumb can see
the writing’s on the wall
in ten foot letters
but no one dares to look
at what will be

I don’t want to feel
the mountain shudder
the city ripple as
nervous as a lake
I don’t want to sense
the planet’s power
seething — close to nightmare
near-awake

I don’t want to guess
how many souls will perish
or to name the head
that ends up on a spike
I just don’t want to think
about the future
for I really doubt there will
be much to like