The Cry of the Wetland
"Hey there, human. Yes, you! Can you hear me?"
A soft ripple moves across the water, and the reeds sway like whispering secrets. You stop, looking around, puzzled.
"Down here. It’s me—the Wetland."
You blink. A wetland talking? Maybe it's the wind playing tricks. But then, the voice continues, smooth yet heavy with emotion.
"Welcome to my world. Look around—see my vast stretches of water, towering reeds, and rich, dark soil. I’ve been here for centuries, helping nature refresh itself. I absorb rain, purify water, and give shelter to countless creatures. Frogs, fish, birds, insects—they all call me home. Even you, human, rely on me more than you know."
You take a deep breath. The air here feels different—cooler, fresher. The distant call of a heron echoes through the marsh. The wind carries the scent of damp earth, a raw and invigorating fragrance. For a moment, you feel a deep sense of peace, as if standing in the embrace of an ancient guardian.
"Once, I was full of life. My waters were crystal clear, my lands teeming with creatures. I was fresh, untouched. But things have changed."
The voice turns somber. You notice something—floating plastic, a dark stain on the water’s surface, a tree stump where a grand old tree once stood. The Wetland sighs.
"With time, I have become impure. Factories dump waste into my waters. People clear my trees to make way for buildings. My creatures are vanishing, and my lands drying up or drowning in pollution. And yet, I still try to help. I soak up floods, I clean your water, I cool the air. But I can’t do it alone."
You step closer, feeling a pang of guilt. You see a turtle struggling to move through a patch of plastic waste. A bird pecks at a piece of trash, mistaking it for food. The Wetland continues, its voice tinged with sorrow.
"Do you know how many lives I sustain? The fish that swim in my waters, the birds that nest in my reeds, the insects that dance above my surface—all of them depend on me. And so do you. My waters feed your rivers, my plants filter your air, and my very existence keeps your world in balance. Yet, I am being destroyed."
You look around, truly seeing the damage for the first time. The once-thriving ecosystem is struggling, suffocating under the weight of human neglect.
"It’s not too late, human. You can still save me. Reduce waste, stop pollution, plant trees, and protect my waters. Small changes in your lifestyle can bring me back to life."
A gentle ripple spreads across the water, as if offering hope. The reeds sway again, but this time, they seem to whisper encouragement.
"You give me a drop of care, and I will give you back a world of happiness. Clean air, fresh water, a thriving planet. I have always been here for you. Will you be here for me?"
The wind rustles the reeds again, and for a moment, you swear they sound like a plea. The sun begins to set, casting a golden glow over the water. You stand in silence, absorbing the weight of the Wetland’s words.
What will you do?
