Seven-billion mark by Halloween; by
2050, estimated at three billion more.
Contemplate: what is our planet to do?
Will there be enough resources for me
– not to mention, what about for you?

Environmental damages, already great
from various agricultural endeavors
contribute oxygen-depleting gases
as global warming effects of weather
add fuel to the war of the classes.

Children should not be into poverty born
living lives as insurance premiums paid
to hedge parents’ bets against old age
as fertility rates drop for the wealthiest
leaving stunned demographers in a daze.

With two children per woman required
for population, in balance with needs, to remain
both too many and too few have costs to pay.
Those fighting family planning will eventually
see theirs and more lives crumble away.

Unless solutions, real, deal with the growth
we’ll crowd into spaces once human-free
as population explodes to numbers untold.
Then, we’ll understand the benefits many
of planned births and senses control.