Out in the Fields

Gold cherry

By lenchenelf

Wed, 22 Sep 2021
  • 4567 reads
21 comments
 

Nimble winged, a late Darter dances

over crops aligned to riverside;

 

What do you see, pretty hover beast?

More than any drone could tell,

 

as you survey our loss of sense

and shame, you also bear the cost:

 

water putrid with untreated filth of man,

this harvest rots unpicked, no hands

 

able or willing to span a gap

of bordered minds.

 

Creature of folktales, fairy-light-on-the-air,

will your kind be here in coming years

 

to tell our myths and mistakes

as once we told of yours.

 

Certificate U
Poem
Camera Obscura
Nature

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I like this poem, it suggests to me that we've lost our way and need to get back to the origins of nature.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

Perhaps we all need to take a long and hard look at we're doing and its effect.

Best to you

Lxx

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

a very moving little gem of a poem. I hope it gets the audience it deserves

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

You are very kind smiley

Best wishes

Lxx

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

for your kind words, I have a soft spot for Dragonflies, they only thrive in areas of low pollution and clear waterways, slowly disappearing I fear.

Best as always

Lxx

 

Submitted by marandina on

There's definitely a fairy tale feel to this with a clear, underlying environmental warning. Nicely done. Paul :)

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

Very pleased you that liked it.

Best wishes

Lxx

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I liked this so much! Finding empty shelves in the supermarket each day is only a tiny bit how it must be for creatures in the wild as the food web disintigrates under the weight of our stupidity and selfishness. I tend to rant, but you have written a beautiful poem of your important message

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

I tried to rein it in this time, but do feel a good rant clears the cobwebs nicely, thank you for reading.

best wishes

Lxx

 

Submitted by Ewan on

This fine poem is our Pick of the Day. Do PLEASE share and or retweet if you like it too.

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

Thank you cherry pixies, very suprised indeedblush

best wishes

Lxx

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I have been amazed at some of the river clean-ups that have happened over the last 50 years or so, eg with the demise of industrial pollution. I know of the vast change in the River Taff, since the mining ended, but also I think much other work was done. It ought to be so much easier to tackle the small lakes, ditches and puddles! I think probably it is those smaller ditches that no-one has responsibility for that are the hardest to get sorted, where unthinkingly rubbish is chucked. But those could be cleared so easily probably.

Dragon flies and damsel flies do still abound and are such a delight. Though they are only noticed when ambling slowly, and then give such pleasure! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, there have been initiatives to clear up our de-oxygenated waterways from physical clutter and grot, but in truth, this is constantly undermined by raw sewage dumps from manufacturers and water treatment into sea and river. This is now compounded by a lack of chemical treatments for raw sewage attributed to lack of road haulage drivers/brexit complications in the market, so a free pass to dump untreated **** has been granted by Defra (so I have read) plus, Silage seep from farmland is always an issue. It's a long haul as our waterways were not in a good state to begin with after nearly two centuries of heavy industry . Still, we'll watch  Dragon and Damsels dance while we yet may. 

all the very best to you

Lena xx

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I'm so pleased this has been chosen as pick of the day, it's well deserved.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

...that it's steam from my hot cup of tea that caused a sudden flush in my cheeks.

Thank you Jenny

best wishes

Lena x

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Brava Maddalena. It needed saying and your message is loud and clear. Will it be heeded? This old cynic is doubtful but keeps his fingers crossed. On the subject of dragonflies, my wife came in from the garden all excited because she had spotted one over our pond.
Congratulations on your accolade.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

You are quite right, the growing crisis in 71% of Earths' coverage is out of sight, out of mind until individuals are affected by dodgy drinking water supplies and no fish. Like your good lady, we had an Emperor pay an unexpected visit to my Red Devil Apple tree last week, it stopped for a bit of R&R, heavens knows from where unless there is rill or brook in nearby farmland. A welcome flash of life and light.

best as always

Lena xx

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Love this - the tragedy is heightened by the magic you bring to the poem. :)

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

You are very kind, they bring their own magic, I merely ken them in a small waysmiley

Best wishes

L xx

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I'm never comfortable if I'm surrounded by millions of them but, generally speaking, I love insects. In each one of them, the way they find food, the way they behave, the mechanics of their bodies fascinates me. Yet we neglect them in such an awful way. Your poem highlights man's disregard for all forms of nature with insects fitting in a long way down the bottom of the list of what we should preserve. An excellent poem but a desperate situation.

Good on you!  

Turlough

Submitted by lenchenelf on

Too true, we are custodians, if we disregard any one species, resource or neighbour, we skew our world, perhaps irrevocably.

Thank you for reading

best

L x