When it happened, I immediately felt different.
The ecstasy I sensed in that genesis was wonderful. I felt the sap boiling as if a fire arose from the ground and reach the heavens. A few days later, everything around me turned quickly, as if they had changed the rules of physics. The days followed one another rapidly, as it had never happened to see them dragging on so fast before. Often I have got the shivers, as feverish preparations. And I was going to vomit right from my deepest bowels. It was liberating, and then I felt better. Water everywhere, salted or river did not matter. I watched everything that grew around me like the miracle of a new creature, such as the one that was already growing with me. I was misshapen, increasing weight and volume every day. However, it was just a drop in the ocean if compared to the inexorable expansion of the universe.
I could perceive new smells and light colours as never before. While growing up and my body changing in shape and size, I could see with different eyes the man I loved the most. He began to abuse, to poison me with his cruel and arrogant words, polluting and undermining everything I had beautifully to give, in a progressive madness.
He began to haunt me with his crazy idea of an economic system of extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal, which he was used to call “economy of materials”. He kept repeating that our enormously productive economy was demanding to make “consumption” our new way of life. That we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction in consumption. He sustained that we needed things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever accelerating rate, to guarantee the future of our creature.
I was fully aware that his behaviour was not sustainable any longer. However, he was blinded by the desire to live a useless wealth, and his plan was weakening me now.
Neither could I support any longer its pace of destruction and terror, even if young and strong still. Sure, I knew I was stronger than him. I also knew that his brilliant plan was a failure right from the beginning. I would not be surprised at all. All the men with whom I had an experience with, had been a failure. I thought this man was forever. Not anymore. I am sure that his part as only that of a minor comedian player within my great work of art.
My name is Earth.
