Reclaimed by Ross Thompson, written in Bangor during Lockdown 2020.
In spite of the waves of uncertainty and fear,
I slept sounder and deeper than I had in years,
and dreamt that the animal kingdom had reclaimed
our world, undoing the damage heedlessly waged
by a reckless populace. The beasts rebalanced
the scales of our indifference: a second chance
to treat this Earth with the gratitude it deserves.
While I slumbered, the creatures came in from the verge
in great numbers, like disembarking from the Ark.
Skies swept spotless of smog warbled with meadowlark
and vireo. Cricket pitches and golf course slopes
ran amok with peacock, foxes and jackalopes.
Cobbled streets echoed with wild boar and mountain goats.
Pumas lay on park benches like discarded coats.
Wolves drank from fountains. Deer sashayed in the subway.
Blossoms pushed through concrete. Oceans, rivers and bays
grew unpolluted. On clear days I saw the moon.
I stirred, drew the blinds and hoped that the dream was true.