5 Gallons of Water

5 gallons of water,

1 flush of your old toilet,

6 gallons of water,

2 flushes of your new toilet.

A composting toilet,

Uses no water,

5 gallons of water,

Does not flush away.

5 gallons of water,

Give a whole bath,

60 gallons of water,

Used for your bath.

The water used,

For the bath,

Is poured,

to the plants.

5 gallons of water,

Does all of the dishes,

30 gallons of water,

Does your dishes.

The water used,

To wash the dishes,

Is poured,

To the plants.

When the plants,

Have been harvested,

The wet dirt and feeder roots,

Are given to the chickens.

One of us wastes,

One of us does not,

It is not enough to talk,

You must walk the talk.

A Teaching Sonnet

by Rhondalyn Teel