The Dove

This is a short poem inspired by a recent Panorama tv programme which examined the illegal planting of palm-oil in Indonesia and the subsequent effect on the local ecology.

The Dove.

Over the canopy,the hawkish Dove flies,
Her plumage 'greed' white and 'corporate' blue.
Released by the boardroom,profits must rise!
She searches for land with a 'green jungle' hue.

The bulldozers follow,the trees are hacked down.
Great fires are started and blacken the earth.
The timber makes decking for 'nice ' parts of town
And palm-oil is planted,a crop with much worth.

Of orangey hair and spidery limb,
The innocent ape knows anguish and pain.
No rich global mogul will take care of him
So he's shot or enslaved on a short length of chain.

The Minister says it's the land they now love
And palm-oil must take second place.
Still the dollars and euro rain down from above
And crocodile tears stain his face.

Meanwhile,in the West,the great debate rages!
Pro-profit or pro-eco fuss?
We must quickly choose which side pays the wages!
The Horseman of Death is staring at us !