What Did You Do? Poem by William Chaplar

While oil spewed into the gulf, what action did you take?
Oh sure, millions were quick to cite the president's mistake.
But how many Americans chose to drive a little less?
(Our endless need for gasoline's what brought about this mess!)
How many of us, therefore, chose to ride a bike to work
instead of simply calling BP's CEO a jerk?
How many of us turned the AC down a notch or two
to prove to themselves there was something everyone could do?
How many sealed up window leaks to keep the cool air in
instead of merely blaming other people for this sin?
How many left the car at home and chose, instead, to walk
rather than sit home listening to toxic DJs talk?
Who logged onto the Internet to see if they could find
some info about energy…you know, the solar kind?
Did anybody make a pledge to change the way they live
so that, to our children, a cleaner planet we might give?
What did you do when our coastline reached the point of no return?
Did you contemplate the lesson that this nation should have learned?
If America does nothing, and we just go on and drill,
just how long will it be until the next disastrous spill?