The World is a Bar of Soap

In an effort to save the world,
she planted her own garden
in a small patch of land behind
her apartment. It was hopeless
though. everything died,
the ground was too hard, full
of worms and bugs, rabbits,
but she didn't give up.
She recycled her wine bottles,
her cans, the newspapers
were wrapped with string,
anything plastic was put out
on the street in the bright yellow
bin, she used the same nylon bag
time after time to carrry home
groceries on her bike. She stopped
wearing make up, buying clothes
that weren't on sale, she turned
off her television, her computer,
the air conditioning, the hot water.
She stopped eating meat and dairy
products, she took in cats, a dog,
a bird whose wings were clipped
and couldn't fly away, he'd
have to walk. She read to the blind,
baked bread for the breadless.
Saving the world had become
a full time job and everyone knew
just how hard she was trying,
just how green she had become.
Strangers would call her up at all
hours to ask her how to throw away
old paint, how to make a compost pile,
or bake macro biotic cupcakes laced
with carob juice. She was a saint among
the eco saints. In her weakend state
life was harder now, but at least it was
as green as green can be. And as she lay
in bed at night alone, listening to world
outside her window, she believed that
if she was just in love, maybe she could
stop this madness and be saved herself.