Can Poetry Save the Planet? Aakansha Damani Asks the Big Questions in ‘The Ultimate Eulogy’
The Ultimate Eulogy By Aakansha Damani
— A poetic reflection on evolution, human consciousness, and the fragility of our planet
“The earth no longer enriching itself,
Might need a little bit more of your help.”
In her evocative poem “The Ultimate Eulogy,” emerging poet Aakansha Damani delivers a sweeping narrative of Earth’s origin, evolution, and impending vulnerability, blending poetic elegance with pressing philosophical inquiry. Anchored in themes of sustainability, co-existence, and introspective inquiry, the poem reads as both homage and warning — a lyrical eulogy for a planet on the edge.
The Cosmic Beginning
The Earth as a planet will die
Having lived a full life of high…
Damani begins with the end — a poignant recognition that Earth, like all things celestial, is finite. Drawing from cosmic imagery, she paints Earth’s birth as a product of stellar rupture and raw elemental chaos. From gases to compounds, and from water to life, the planet’s journey toward equilibrium is presented as a masterclass in organic evolution.
Nature’s Perfect Mathematics
Grass-Deer-Tiger balanced perfectly.
There was no waste nor by-product,
Sustainability was the conduct.
Through elegant verse, Damani outlines the self-sustaining design of Earth’s ecosystem — a natural order unmarred by waste or excess. Life, in its primal form, operated in harmony, with every organism playing a role in the grand equation of survival.
The Human Arrival — Blessing or Blunder?
Humans arrived with an inherent ability…
That makes infinity a possibility.
Enter humans — uniquely gifted with imagination, creativity, and curiosity. But with this gift came constructs of power, identity, and ideology. Damani critiques the rise of abstract concepts like race, money, and religion, questioning whether these unifying forces are, in fact, dividing us.
Imagination and Its Aftermath
Although this imagination serves well, mostly,
There’s a huge by-product that’s quite costly.
What began as evolution led to civilization, and with it, human excess. The poem subtly critiques war, industrialization, and environmental degradation — outcomes of unchecked imagination and ambition. Damani mourns the loss of innocence and sentience in the face of power and greed.
The Existential Dilemma
Who am I? What’s my purpose?
Am I standing here, there or versus?
In her closing verses, Damani turns philosophical. She speculates on a new species in a distant galaxy — one that might learn from humanity’s missteps. The final stanza urges the reader to recognize existence itself as a gift and co-existence as the truest form of wisdom.
About the Poet
Aakansha Damani is an avid reader, aspiring writer, and budding poet. The Ultimate Eulogy draws inspiration from the teachings of A. Nagaraja and explores themes of sustainability, purpose, and collective harmony. Through her poetry, Aakansha hopes to awaken consciousness around humanity’s responsibility to protect the Earth and each other.
“Maybe this new species will evolve differently,
And understand this one simple reality:
That your existence itself is the gift
And co-existence is the ultimate drift.”
