Trash:

I walked across the beach looking for shells

Every year on our spring break it was always a tradition

Instead, I was horrified by what I saw

My heart; broke

Massive volumes of trash uncovered and buried

Dead fish scattered along the shore

I continued walking, knowing this was our fault

Nets:

I ran across the dock of our boat as the jets propelled

Every year on our spring break deep-sea fishing was always a tradition

Instead, I was horrified by what I saw

My heart; torn

A dolphin lay dead in a fisherman’s net

I continued fishing, knowing this was our fault

Bleached: 

I snorkeled across the reef, excited about what I was going to see

Every year on our spring break snorkeling was always a tradition

Instead, I was horrified by what I saw

My heart: fractured

The billowing sand uncovered the trash scattered on the ocean floor

The bright coral reef was bleached

I continued snorkeling, knowing this was our fault

Consequences:

Trash filling miles on miles of ocean

Our beloved animals caught fighting for their lives in nets

Now what used to be bright coral reefs were now bleached and vulnerable

We now bear the brunt of destructive consequences

Our Ocean: The Hidden Gem of mother nature

It is being desecrated, while we are naive and don’t think of our actions

We don’t have a spare decade to sit around

This is our problem of now and the past, but the solution should be our pride of the future