caterpillars for songbirds and
forage for caribou in time
eggs in nests and calves on the
hoof
nature and nurture finely tuned
run down like an hour glass
un-turned
until humans heed its alarm
reset with hands, knowledge and chi
as communal
propriety
walk then, breathe
to be part of earth
as prayer
that denies not its birth
Posted for my prompt Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Science, which will open at 6 a.m. Central Time. Based on "The Change Within: The Obstacles We Face Are Not Just External."*
Copyright © 2014 S.L.Chast
*An essay by Naomi Klein that I read on Bill Moyer's Facebook page, reprinted from The Nation by Moyers and Company (April 22, 2014).
30 thousand cute white bunny rabbits, 40 to a 16 cubic foot cage, for food in Spain, doesn't quite meet your standards yet. Will we ever get back to a balance again? I know it is harming my constitution, but I turned vegetarian a decade ago, like so many. Even though chicken, rabbits, pheasants, lamb, all organic and free range, are on my doorstep. I simply can't eat flesh anymore. Much to my surprise actually. I'd never held such strong beliefs before.
ReplyDeleteLove you neatly pared down lines with its well considered philosophy.
I had the title as a refrain between the lines, but cut it as unnecessary. Glad you like!
DeleteI was a vegetarian once, now I just don't eat 4-legged animals and buy the rest sparingly from farms, not factories. The cost cuts down on my eating of dead flesh quite a bit. There are ways to find balance that will not harm you.
Nature forces a rhyme and pattern inside us and around us..we should listen to it a little more I should think...gentle yet certain words..
ReplyDeleteI love this, Susan (especially first couplet)... rhyming works really well here. = )
ReplyDeleteYes, the inner change is the more necessary and urgent one - across the planet - before the balance can hope to right itself. So well expressed, Susan.
ReplyDeleteThe last 2 lines made me think about prayers/affirmations/mantras...~ The nature always knows what time is now....
ReplyDeleteGod's time and natures time are perfect indeed...and nature certainly is God's fingerprint of evidence that there is something more...this is lovely Susan. :-)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea (as I read it) of faith mixed with science is needed to save our environment, and this was beautiful regardless of whether I read it as intended or not.
ReplyDeletethis is so timely.....and wise lines..."until humans heed its alarm
ReplyDeletereset with hands, knowledge and chi as communal propriety"...my favorite lines
The following lines say it all, Susan. Incredible!!
ReplyDelete" nature and nurture finely tuned
run down like an hour glass un-turned
until humans heed its alarm" -- How true! Love this...:)
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the ecological balance and our responsibility to the environment and other creatures.
ReplyDelete