The lea watches with fear
her once verdant complexion,
loses sheen.
dark lines mar her with scars of grey
puffy eyes let out silent tears
moistening the dwindling flowers,
their fragrance buried within its bosom
masked by man’s atrocities
A to Z Challenge 2022 – Nature and I
Listen well while I tell you a story, of not so long ago.
Earth was a resplendent pristine aura of iridescent hues.
A tiara of verdant promise graced her flawless face,
she nurtured her earthlings with abundance.
The primordial man dwelled in harmony, under her benign bosom.
The passage of time, alters the rhythm of life,
greed eclipses man’s wisdom, as he dons a narcissist’s role.
Progress takes a dimension of untamed growth,
his scalpel pierces deep into her womb
ears fall deaf to her heartrending cries.
He stamps his carbon footprints on the planet
concretes conquer green duvets,
glaciers melt a teary deluge,
species disappear, marine creatures succumb to oil spills,
climate change makes an unwelcome entry.
Mercury exhales blazing inferno
flora and fauna wither under toxic pollutants
obscured greys and browns tint her visage
negligent dumping of plastic nauseates her
gaseous smog poisons her primeval soul.
Today she blows the bugle of warning,
for man to stop his fusillade of plunders.
Her wrath brings forth natural dissonance.
Life today is bordering on fringes of doom,
before she exhales fumes of deathly toxins.
It’s time we pay heed to those sirens
replace tainted solutions with sustainability,
before nature’s sweet song fades away
overpowered by her screams for salvation,
until she breathes her last or we do!!
I am pained at man’s insatiable greed in plundering nature’s resources. In the name of progress, he has punctured her soul. The lockdown during the pandemic helped nature with a reset button, reclaiming her lost space and breath. We witnessed reduced air pollution, cleaner water bodies, animals and birds came out into the open, as we remained locked within our homes. This was probably the only silver lining of the pandemic. Sadly, not much is learned from the pandemic. People and countries have gone back to their old ways. Only a handful of conscientious people are working relentlessly in conservation and restoration of our environment.
Doesn’t this teach us that if we respect the nature and its finite resources, we will be blessed with infinite blessings. It is time we pay heed to her cries, as she is all we have got.
You can read my earlier posts from this challenge here.
Once upon a time,
the view from my window was utopian,
verdant promises swayed beyond the lake,
sanguine blossoms wafted scented felicity.
The flux of time flits by,
man’s indomitable spirit to progress
transforms the landscape with high-rises,
clouded by a myopic vision of future.
My spectacles are befogged by the virulent grey,
I put on the rose-tinted glasses, with a prayer
that his intelligence befriends wisdom
sparing the children of tomorrow, fumes of slow poison.
Through the lens of the dog…
Oh Man! You are the dumbest species I have seen.
Your insensitive attitude towards your home, your planet continues to baffle me.
You build vast technology driven systems, things work at the press of a button, yet you seem to have lost the connect with your life.
The buildings you construct kiss the sky, but from above, you’ve failed to keep tab on the ground realities that are so vital for survival.
You bulldoze the greens in the name of development, failing to realize that you are axing the supply of air needed for your children tomorrow.
Money, power and expansion seems to be your only mantra, forgetting the core values of humanity.
With medical advancement, sadly the lines at hospitals have also grown longer.
Gadgets seem to control your lives, people hardly matter.
Climate change, covid, growing inequality, water shortage, increasing pollution and plastic choking all seem to attract headlines as breaking news or conclude in conclaves of world dignitaries to meet and discuss. Most times the measures to curb the problems are just on paper.
Man, why do you not learn from the catastrophes that have befallen you? I am indeed appalled at your callousness.
We animals may not be as intelligent as you are, but we are definitely wiser.
You live as if there is no tomorrow. Hope your children don’t pay the price of your mistakes.
Oh Man, Will you ever learn?
Roots embedded deep into the earthy bosom,
Strong boughs heaven bound
Cascades of green breathe out benevolence
Nature’s regal masterpiece!
In response to Brenda’s wordle #418.
Write a prose or a poem using some or all of the words given.
Global warming, rising ocean levels, climate change, water crisis, forest fires are terms that have become common parlance today. What was earlier ignorance is now over powered by man’s greed, in plundering nature’s resources for his benefit. The adverse impact of this reckless behavior is escalating to be a very alarming situation. If man continues to ravage earth’s reserves at this rate, life on this planet is definitely numbered. The only solution lies in ending our cruelty to nature, help her reinstate her lost glory and leave behind a planet worthy of living for our children.
“How much plastic is in your diet? “Glared the headline in today’s newspaper.
It says that worldwide people could be ingesting about 5g of microscopic plastic particles every week, equivalent in weight to a credit card averaging about 250 g over the course of one year.
The main sources of culprit are bottled water, beer, shellfish, packaged food and salt according to the University of Newcastle in France. Plastic particles have also been found in significant quantities in marine creatures.
Another study reveals that people in many nations eat and drink about 45000 plastic particles smaller than 130 microns annually while breathing in the same number.
More than 75% of all plastics winds up as waste being dumped into nature, polluting rivers, land and the oceans.
In the last two decades the world has produced as much plastic as during the rest of history and this trend is projected to grow at the rate of 4 % per annum.
Isn’t it shocking to read?
I remember as a kid stepping out to the market with my cloth bag, the grocer giving the provisions in paper bags, milk came in glass bottles. Almost everything was eco-friendly. People got things repaired and refilled. The concept of use and throw was alien. Though we didn’t have many luxuries and comforts to boast of, people were a happier and healthier lot.
If we want to remain healthy and save our environment we need to stop millions of tons of plastic that continue to leak into nature causing irreversible damage to all living beings and the planet.
What do you feel? I am sure many of us are doing our bit in making this planet a better place, do share it with the readers at large so that many can implement them and contribute to the cause.
In response to Ronovanwrites haiku challenge # 228, to use the prompt words Future & Hope!
This time I have tried to provide a stark perspective to the two prompt words.
Earth dies a slow death
blinded by man’s greed, she chokes
hope for future, bleak!
Few spirited souls
champion the cause for clean earth
the future has hope!
An ardent lover of nature, I believe nature is a treasure trove of beauty and joy. She dazzles our senses with the feelings of awe, wonder and amazement at her sheer beauty.
The confluence of the varied facets of nature’s immense artistry is there for all to see. The wafting clouds, winding rivulets, snow-capped mountains, green meadows, glorious horizon, starlit night sky, vibrant smiling flowers, all complement and complete nature. No concrete structure however magnificent it is, can match the alluring charm of nature. To me she is all encompassing epitome of beauty.
“If you truly love nature you will find beauty everywhere! “Vincent Van Gogh.
Today, I will focus the spotlight on the many roles that she dons.
Musician
The gurgling brooks, the roaring thunder, the dancing winds, the gentle rainfall, humming bees, chirping birds, the undulating waves , the cascading waterfalls, trill of the insects, all her musicians play their part to perfection in creating a scintillating symphony. Truly they play an ebullient orchestra!
Artist
An artist par excellence, she paints the horizon with a riot of colors depicting her mood. Many painters have attempted to capture her glory on canvas. From the vermilion and tangerine streaks, to the diffused hues of purple across the azure horizon, the pristine white clouds to the tar grey, the lush greens to the ochre yellows, the calm emerald blue waters to the shimmering gold, the pristine snow clad splendor to the ember autumn glow, the grandeur of the majestic mountains to the ravishing valleys, she looks radiant in all her avatars!
Healer
The confused mind, broken heart and the bruised body, all find solace under her benevolent grace. She energises and rejuvenates the body and mind. Her tranquil and serene persona infuses an eternal calm to the seeking soul. She indeed dons the role of a therapeutic healer with élan!
Scriptwriter
O la la….. Nature loves to play cupid in many love stories. She pens a perfect script and setting for a romantic evening under the silvery moonlight and the confetti of the twinkling stars. The raindrops, snowfall and the whispering cool caress of the breeze, all kindle the amorous souls to compose beautiful poetries of love and passion.
Nurturer
Ever providing and giving to one and all, creating a nurturing sanctuary for dwelling, she is a boon to mankind, a celebration of existence and an elixir of life!
What is nature to you?
It’s time we call it quits. I have come to realize that there is nothing more in this relationship for me. Though you have stood by me in thick and thin, quenched my thirst, appeased by hunger, helped me in many ways yet, I know I am being selfish when I have to break up with you. It’s just that doing this is for the greater good of all! Making inroads into all aspects of my life, you seem to be stalking me like a shadow. While your intention is all good, you are making my life toxic. Both, my home and I are beginning to choke under your excessive interference.
I know it’ll take me a while to come out of your influence, but I am sure it will help me breathe freely and connect back to my roots. It was good while it lasted. But sorry mate, I have to bid adieu to you, Mr. PLASTIC!!
I am sure all of us are aware that plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade and is literally choking our earth. Let’s switch to alternate options and ban plastic from our life as far as possible.
toxic relationship
choking us to a slow death
flush out and move on
embrace natural options
enliven environment!
( A Tanka)
radhikasreflection 