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Nature Speaks

June 22, 2020 3:59 am

desertification

before cultivation the water flowed
bouncing on leaves falling falling
to pool on fertile forest floor below

before cultivation the water flowed
flora bursting with life and clean air
jostling for sunspace canopy flirting

before cultivation the water flowed
we didn’t listen as we ploughed
clearing tree roots to feed fields

before cultivation the water flowed
now encrusted salt lusts after land
no sweetness here just bitter dry sand


Frances Macaulay Forde © 2007

 

This article in The Guardian  reminded me of my poem published in FAWWA and POETS UNION anthologies.

,  and 

CORONAVIRUS IS A WARNING TO US TO MEND OUR BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE.

The world must embrace a recovery that involves sustainable farming and clean energy. Anything else is a false economy

Billows of smoke rise over a deforested plot of the Amazon jungle in Rondonia State, Brazil, August 24, 2019.
 Deforestation in the Amazon jungle, Brazil, 2019. Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

In 1997, a large area of rainforest in south-east Asia was burned to the ground to make way for palm oil plantations. A combination of deforestation, forest fires and drought are believed to have forced hundreds of fruit bats away from their natural habitats towards fruit orchards planted in close proximity to intensive pig farms. These conditions led to the emergence of the Nipah virus, which spilled over from infected bats to pigs, and from pigs to pig farmers. Over the next two years, the disease would kill more than 100 people. This should have served as a warning.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

 

#TheGuardian  #Nature’sWarning   #COVID-19  #POEM:desertification  #FrancesMacaulayForde

 

 

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Posted by Frances Macaulay Forde

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3 Responses to “Nature Speaks”

  1. The repetition in this poem is particularly effective. Nature is speaking to us very loudly.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Liz Gauffreau on June 23, 2020 at 11:02 am

    1. Thank you for your comment, Liz. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      By Frances Macaulay Forde on June 23, 2020 at 11:21 am

      1. You’re welcome, Frances.

        Liked by 1 person

        By Liz Gauffreau on June 24, 2020 at 11:25 am

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