We Have Met the Enemy

[Michael]

Brightly blue breezy dawning provides
hypnotic backdrop for rustic hedge and tree,
unfazed by gracious cadence of wafting wings.
Brilliant blazing treasured habitat is revealed.

Seduced by sun’s good natured warmth,
balletic branches wave bladed hands
to rouse the attention of forest friends,
enlivened by the sound of breathing wind.

Beauty beheld by beholders upon beholders,
boundless beholders, limitless beholders,
intrusive beholders, nascent beholders
learning to feel, failing to learn - blind beholders.

Restless clap of beating wings sounds, grief
for loss of pure, communal, natural refuge.
Countryside crippled by criminal crowd
which paralyzes movement like tarantula’s bite.

Like oil obscures newborn snowfall,
we struggle to cover our noxious past,
renounce our role in this somber drama,
enduringly embrace our erroneous detachment.

[laleesh]

michael, this is heartbreaking. i've been thinking much along these very lines for the past few days, how humans collectively are losing their most vital connections, pulling their own plugs.

and i want to cry for mother earth, when it's really us who are hurt the most.



:)
lala

[Michael]

Thank you for responding, laleesh.

How does it go? Something about paving paradises and putting up car parks. Oh, that’s right, I don’t live there. Parking lots.

Seriously, I’ve, too, been thinking about it. Lots of fires caused by “beholders” here in CA. I hear that a lot more of it used to be beautiful.

[Territorial Hawk]

:( So sad...

[Michael]

Thank you for responding, TH. I agree, it’s sad, although it’s a wonder to behold and I’m not implying that we not behold. I just think that beholding Nature has, for some, become like going to an amusement park.

[ompholos]

kept me in hemistiches
;)
especially with the alliteration
and the caesuras in the third stanza

[luvleerenee]

I read this one silently. Then out loud. It has to be vocalized to appreciate the fine craft of your selected words. Beautifully done!

[Michael]

ompholos, thanks for the comments. And, thanks for noticing. That is very much appreciate. Hemistiches. :D

I see you’re a cognitive dissident. I’ve been published in THE AMERICAN DISSIDENT. Does that count? :confused:

Reneé, thank you for your response. It means a lot to me. And thanks for the critique.

[Poeticpiers]

Man oh Man delicious alliteration high lighting mans loss of his roots.

[Michael]

Thanks, Ivor. “Man’s loss of his roots.” Thank you for that. You’re exactly right. Nature today is “entertainment” to so many people.

[Beki]

the language here is so lyrical and fluid, and the message so sensitively presented...I thoroughly enjoyed the read Michael :)

[Michael]

Beki, thanks so much for your response and the kind words. They’re very much appreciated. ;)










Where Were You? (http://www.danaliterary.org/non-fiction_6.htm)

[DaBomb]

What a lyrical treat Michael, and what a strong message of jaded mock appreciation and downright disrespect for the earth. The third stanza had a nearly Seussical feel, only with a serious undertone to the rhythm, especially in that last line. A very thoughtful tribute to a planet that we are, as the human race, neglecting more and more to the sad destruction of our awesome home and caregiver.

Bryan

[Michael]

Thanks for responding and doing so insightfully, Bryan.

As I previously mentioned, I’m not opposed to “beholding”. There, without doubt, is much beauty to behold in Nature. I think in this “all resources belong to us” instead of “we belong to all resources” world, it kind of gets messed up a little.

Again, thank you for your kindness.




Where Were You? (http://www.danaliterary.org/non-fiction_6.htm)

[paul kren]

I walk in my yard barefoot, just to feel the earth beneath me

[Michael]

Thanks for stopping by Paul.

I bet it felt good! Now, that’s how to behold.


Where Were You (http://www.danaliterary.org/non-fiction_6.htm)