Man and Nature

Man and Nature

A plastic bag flapping in a tree then flown.
A rusty tin can in a hedge.
When will man recognise that he is not alone.
Nature eventually has the cutting edge.

A river flowing dirty and murky.
No fish for miles and miles.
Just disuses industry looking quirky.
Nature abandoned to human life styles.

A Tsunami brings up huge waves
that man just cannot predict.
Thousands of lives lost that God gave.
Man cannot survive by issuing edicts.

Animal diseases such as foot and mouth
leaving cows shaking and falling.
This time it spreads from the South.
Up go meat prices with the market calling.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Who knows where it came from?
In Africa the disease has hot home.
Millions affected by this ticking time bomb.

A hole in the ozone layer.
World temperatures getting higher.
Man is the major world player.
Day by day the situation gets more dire.

Seals are not allowed to eat fish,
well not too many anyway.
Less of the battered variety in the dish.
Cubs culled whilst they should be at play.

Oil slicks like the Amoco Cadiz.
Birds covered head to toe.
Surrounded by an oily fizz.
It is man’s fault you know.


Do not travel on aeroplanes for your hols.
Sit four in a small engines car.
Speedy sports driven by irresponsible guys and dolls.
Higher petrol prices so they do not go so far.

Nuclear power stations on the coast.
Coal powered ones near the city.
An accident could burn us like toast.
We carry on more is the pity.

Wouldn’t it be nice if animals were in control.
Man at their mercy would score an own goal.
Once started they would be on a roll.
Populations of men placed in a big hole.

Let us make a wish upon a star.
Let us change our ways.
Let us protect the environment
before it is too late.

I wrote this poem in the Summer of 2008 on a coach trip to Cardiff.

I have an Environment al Studies degree and did some extensive voluntary conservation work in the Summer of 2010.

Since writing this the third and tenth stanzas have tragically, yet predictably come true on a massive scale. Nature truly rules.

Japan has abandoned nuclear power. Yet Great Britain carries on blindly. The Great is a true misnomer. I am proud to be Welsh. London rules too much for the North and the minorities.

The fifth last line is a vivid vision.