Friday, May 3, 2013

Sad Tale of the Amazon

Transforming Friday


The challenge is to transform your poetic voice into that of the wildlife from the Tropical Rain Forest!

Photo Source


This challenge immediately brought to mind this image I saw earlier this week. This koala was in Australia but could just as easily have been The Amazon Tropical Rain Forest. I wrote mostly about my feelings and maybe didn't do the challenge the way it was meant to be. This is what I felt I personally had to write.


The Amazon ~ A gift to Earth
treasures of life yet to discover
though even as we search for new
we destroy what was
and what would have been

Ancient trees felled by bulldozers
killing some and forcing relocation
even animals remember their home
this koala had a home
likely a family

What have we done
and why don't we care?
Take for today without thought
for tomorrow

Centuries of secrets and beauty and healing
traded for wood and condos?
Many koalas become confused when their homes
are destroyed
Rescue organizations will help him
after patching up cuts and scratches from
what used to be his safety and protection

I cry for the Amazon Tropical Rain Forest
I cry for the animals killed in its destruction
I cry for the confused ones left behind
I cry for humanity who allows this to happen

No magic wand can bring back centuries
Who knows if we have centuries to restore even if we could
The sadness of this koala
is the face of our inhumanity
and our many questions
What now?


8 comments:

  1. No magic wand, indeed! I hear (and feel) your cry.

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  2. Your words and picture are so sad ~ What now indeed, when we can't bring back those creatures and ancient trees ~

    Nice to meet you ~

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  3. "I cry for the Amazon Tropical Rain Forest
    I cry for the animals killed in its destruction
    I cry for the confused ones left behind
    I cry for humanity who allows this to happen"

    Powerful and personal and I cry, with you. Thank you for writing this, Maggie. ♥

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  4. Thank you, Margaret, Grace, and Hannah for reading and sharing your comments. I love your community. Was/am extra sad today so this prompt really touched on that. I used to write rhyming poetry for years but now it's just really my thinking flowing out. I appreciate being part of the group or at least a newbie to the group.

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  5. We have no magic wand for the magic we have destroyed. You have written your tears into this piece that causes my own to fall.

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  6. This picture of the koala will stay with me for a very long time. Your words are just as powerful in giving voice to the outrage such destruction deserves.

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  7. OMG. I am late coming to this challenge and just posted my piece about the Amazon making some of the same points you do. This is one of the saddest photos ever. It reminds me of a First Nations chief here some years back, talking about seeing a mother bear followed by two cubs walking across a clearcut and how it made he and his wife cry. Thank you for helping to raise awareness of this horrible situation.

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  8. That picture just absolutely breaks my heart.

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