Lament

The polystyrene carton sits jauntily on the kerbside,

a trail of kebab sauce smeared across the pavement betraying its path of travel.

A few steps further on the plastic fork, 

that has so briefly fulfilled its manufacturer's purpose,

sticks out of the branches of a well groomed hedge. 

A half full bottle of Irn Bru has been carefully laid on the wall below the hedge, 

as if awaiting the return of its consumer. 

I am behind the crowds who have left these additions to our environment,

with my red council gifted bin bag and my litter picker. 

I lament the selfishness that throws, chucks, and drops debris around our world. 

Will any speech, march, agreement, discussion, conference ever change us?