The Struggles : Turtle Amid Plastic Pollution I Poem By Faith

The Struggles : Turtle Amid Plastic Pollution

At the endless shores I crawl,

Heaving my shell across the sand dune.

A shell once bright by nature’s hew,

Is dulled by the filth the currents spew.

I seek the coral’s gentle gleam,

That is now filled by a plastic stream

Bags float like jellyfish in bloom,

A silent threat a creeping doom.

My flippers tired, my spirit low,

I wonder where the clean tides go.

The grave prepares to sing a lullaby,

As I choke with wastes the humans gave.

Yet still, I swim with quite grace,

Wearing strength in this poisoned place.

Hope still clings beneath my fragile shell,

That change will come and all will be well.

By  Faith Paroma, 14, Kampala

FAQs: The Struggles :Turtle Amid Plastic Pollution

What are the main dangers plastic poses to sea turtles, as suggested in the poem?

The poem highlights three primary dangers:

• Ingestion: The line, “Bags float like jellyfish in bloom,” refers to plastic bags that turtles mistake for their natural prey (like jellyfish). Ingesting plastic causes blockages, starvation and toxic contamination.

• Entanglement: The poem mentions the turtle’s “flippers tired.” Turtles can become entangled in discarded fishing nets (“ghost nets”) and plastic debris, which can lead to exhaustion, injury, restricted movement, and drowning.

• Habitat Degradation: The entire setting, where the “coral’s gentle gleam… is now filled by a plastic stream,” shows how pollution degrades critical feeding and nesting habitats, making survival difficult.

How does plastic affect a sea turtle’s “shell once bright by nature’s hew”?

While plastic doesn’t directly dull the shell’s color, the general pollution and toxicity of their environment do affect their overall health and well-being. Furthermore, the plastic stream carries other pollutants and can lead to chronic disease, which certainly dulls the vibrancy of a healthy turtle.

What is the poet referring to with the line, “Bags float like jellyfish in bloom”?

This is a direct reference to a lethal threat: plastic bags underwater look remarkably similar to jellyfish, the main food source for several species of sea turtles, especially the critically endangered Leatherback turtle.

What is the “wastes the humans gave” that can cause the turtle to “choke”?

The primary choking hazard for sea turtles is plastic debris, which is unfortunately a direct result of human activity (littering, improper waste management). This can include:

• Larger plastics that get stuck in the throat or digestive tract.

• Microplastics that accumulate in the turtle’s body over time, causing internal injury and reducing their ability to absorb nutrients.

Despite the struggles, the poem ends with “Hope still clings… That change will come.” What are the real-world efforts currently being made to help sea turtles?

Numerous efforts are underway globally:

• Cleanup Operations: International and local groups organize beach and ocean cleanup events to remove immediate debris.
• Plastic Reduction Policies: Governments are implementing bans or taxes on single-use plastics (bags, straws, bottles) to stop pollution at its source.
• “Ghost Net” Removal: Specialized teams work to locate and remove abandoned fishing gear that traps and kills marine life.
• Rescue and Rehabilitation: Organizations rescue and treat entangled or sick turtles and return them to the ocean.

What can an individual person do to help the turtles and bring about the “change” the poem speaks of?

Individuals can make a significant impact by adopting the “Five Rs” of waste reduction:

• Refuse: Say no to single-use plastics (straws, takeout containers).
• Reduce: Buy less and choose products with minimal packaging.
• Reuse: Use reusable bags, water bottles, and coffee cups.
• Repurpose: Find new uses for items instead of throwing them away.
• Recycle: Properly sort and recycle all eligible waste.

Where can I buy the books?

You can buy the books at Bookosmia’s Shop section and Amazon

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Photo Credit – AI generated images from Chat GPT and Magic Media from Canva .

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