“We have enslaved the rest of the animal creation, and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form.” - William Inge
This week, the New What’s Up blog commemorates the life and death of Jane Goodall, a primatologist and anthropologist who dedicated her life to studying primates and advocating conservation and climate action. Here is my offering.
Talk to the Animals
To treat each living thing
As if your life depends on it
Is a hard task, and few of us
Try to live by such a rule
And hope to succeed.
Living, respecting nature,
Trying to leave this world
A better place than what you found,
Is a life-long commitment
And one peppered with failures.
To live your life in harmony
With what’s around you:
Trees, animals, lakes, streams,
Sea, fish, air and earth,
Is a momentous undertaking.
Yet, so many amongst us
Venture forth and dedicate
Their life to doing good,
Saving the bounty given us
With utmost care and stewardship.
Thank those angels on earth,
Who came and tried to save us:
Jane, David, Jacques, Ralph,
Chief Seattle, Theodore, Wangari,
Rachel, Chico, Margaret…
Talk to the animals and learn,
To do what comes naturally,
No waste, no undue harm,
No ravaging of earth’s resources,
A web of life, perpetuating life...
Talk to the Animals
To treat each living thing
As if your life depends on it
Is a hard task, and few of us
Try to live by such a rule
And hope to succeed.
Living, respecting nature,
Trying to leave this world
A better place than what you found,
Is a life-long commitment
And one peppered with failures.
To live your life in harmony
With what’s around you:
Trees, animals, lakes, streams,
Sea, fish, air and earth,
Is a momentous undertaking.
Yet, so many amongst us
Venture forth and dedicate
Their life to doing good,
Saving the bounty given us
With utmost care and stewardship.
Thank those angels on earth,
Who came and tried to save us:
Jane, David, Jacques, Ralph,
Chief Seattle, Theodore, Wangari,
Rachel, Chico, Margaret…
Talk to the animals and learn,
To do what comes naturally,
No waste, no undue harm,
No ravaging of earth’s resources,
A web of life, perpetuating life...
"Talk to the animals and learn" to be part of and advocate for earth. Your poem touches the size of the task. I love that you thank the angels who undertake it!
ReplyDeleteWe could learn so much from the animals. I love your poem, Nick, and the inclusion of the names of those wonderful beings who tried so hard to teach us.
ReplyDeleteYes, to treat each living thing as if our life depended on it....that is what we all should do. As well as to live in harmony with all around us! I loved that you included so many angels whose names I clicked on to see who they were. Again, a very powerful poem!
ReplyDelete"To live your life in harmony With what’s around you" is a great compass for the heart for everyone and than there are the angels who go above and beyond. Very special
ReplyDeleteLove kindness and living in harmony with all of the other species is the key to our survival. Lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteNature can teach us many lessons about harmony and balance. It does take dedication and resilience to to walk the trail of the heart of hearts. There are many angels that have walked amongst us in the journey.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful reflection on how people should live in harmony with the natural world they live in - Jae
ReplyDelete"To treat each living thing
ReplyDeleteAs if your life depends on it"....We better do this for our own survival. A very powerful poem, Nick, especially these two lines. A wonderful tribute to all the angels who are working so hard to make our home planet more livable for all.