There’s an agreement, though we’re oft unaware,
between nature and man for each others care.
It’s from her nurture that we grow and thrive,
Her bounteous beauty keeps us alive.
For the past hundred years, we’ve turned our back
and pretended that we would never lack
the things that we needed. We didn’t learn
we had to pay what we owed in return.
We accept what once was unthinkable
and now our water’s barely drinkable.
We continue to pollute once fresh air
and yet we think that nature doesn’t care.
You see everyday on news and TV
another of nature’s catastrophes.
A monsoon in Burma tears at the shores,
food riots among the African poor.
Glaciers melting at an alarming rate
while deserts expand is beyond debate.
We watch it all in comfort on TV
insulated from the world’s reality.
We can no longer keep heads in the sand.
We need to take action and make a stand
to help our earth as it’s always helped us.
No longer can we ignore our solemn trust.
If we go along waiting for others
it won’t be long before we discover
that we have achieved one last distinction:
We’ll be the last species facing extinction.
Perhaps on one bright far off future day
a small tender green shoot will push its way
with hope thru the long fallowed earth and then
a soft breeze will whisper “let’s try again.”
Author notes
Prompt: Nature
Picture Credit: Awakening (www.photobucket.com)
No less than 30 or more than 100 lines. (Only 32 here 
)
A contest entry
- 5385 Points --- Winner Take All by mrme.
5385 points, ended October 28, 2008, 29 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Critical Comments Always Welcome but I Won't Turn Down Fluffy One's Either :D
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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wow, you speak the truth here. this has a great sit and ponder effect. while we're all aware of the pollution around us and many things that are wrong in the world, you do an outstanding job of bringing it to the forefront. you have packed a wallop in (as you say) only 32 lines here. everything about this poem is excellent. I especially like the last verse.
great write. thanks for entering and good luck. -
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You're very kind in your words... I think we all have that fear that we're approaching a point where it will be too late... I, myself, think the earth won't let us get that far...
Thank you for the considered and thoughtful comment...
Ken
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I think that you have a typo in the 1st line of the 1st stanza. "oft" = often?
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this is outstanding.. you hit the nail on the head with this piece. very well said. we can't ignore any longer what is happening around us, actually its been happening the whole entire time, just some chose to ignore it. this is full of truth. excellent job with the prompt.
we don't take care of it soon there won't be anything left to.
good luck my lover
kat
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good luck in the contest my lover
kat
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