Elemental

A Poem by David C. Roberson

Men always attempt to claim, define, and diminish what they cannot control, but there is always a cost for underestimating something fundamental—consequences for confusing presence with permission.

Elemental
03/26/2026
by David C. Roberson

She flickers like fire.
Men gather for heat.
They offer her trinkets,
and trifles and meat.
When she takes what they offer,
They call her a thief!
Warmth demanded,
but it’s not what she promised.

She is strong as a gale,
stronger than even shown.
Men pray to her, plead to her,
They want to get blown.
“She’s just a cheap breeze!”
They proclaim when it’s known:
even zephyrs shrug at
weak allegiance.

She’s salty like sea,
and brimming with life.
Men enter her boldly
without thinking twice.
But they curse her when rocked,
and when she spits them out.
Her depths are great,
There’s far too much pressure.

She’s grounded like earth,
bad seeds find no purchase.
Men blame her and say,
“Tired soil has no purpose!”
But the cruel and the selfish
who won’t provide rest
will die alone, hungry
as should all fucking pests!