Mole, Diversity– By Shem Onderi
You live beneath our feet,
a secret life unseen,
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Yet your destruction is loud,
a tale of ravaged dreams.
Little is known of your ways,
no social moments shared,
No rest days recorded, just an endless,
underground lair.
Your body is tender,
fragile to the touch,
But your teeth,
sharp as knives,
leave no room for
gentle clutch.
How you remain clean,
in the dark, damp earth below,
Is a mystery,
a wonder,
as you dig and
forage,
to and fro.
Your energy is boundless,
your maneuvers,
a marvel to behold,
From one crop field to another,
you tunnel,
young and old.
No single crop is safe,
just a determination to destroy,
The mother root,
the plant’s lifeblood,
and the entire crop
will wither and dry.
Your forelegs,
strong and sturdy,
splash soil with ease,
Leaving a trail of devastation,
a testament to your expertise.
Mole,
come live above ground,
like many others,
and bask in the sun’s warm light,
Run in the open fields,
and let us see your face,
your kin, your delight.
Show us your history,
your culture, and
let us learn from you,
So we can understand your ways,
and find a way to live
in harmony, anew.
Let’s talk about the crops
you need to spare,
the ones we value and adore,
The ones whose fruits we enjoy,
and whose roots you target,
unaware of the harm you store.
For every bite you take,
hunger is felt,
a ripple effect,
far and wide,
Affecting humanity,
and the world,
in ways you cannot hide.
Mole,
you need water,
to quench your thirst,
and it’s plentiful,
above ground,
So why not try the
Wondering Jew,
the Mathenge tree,
or the invasive blue gum,
instead?
Visit the lake,
and weed out the water hyacinth,
a menace to our shores,
And you’ll be valuable,
a hero,
in the eyes of humanity,
forevermore.
