John Anderson Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Recognising the Great Barrier Reef as a legal entity with rights rests on a mix of legal, ecological, ethical, and cultural arguments via the “Rights of Nature” movement Around the world, the Whanganui River and Te Urewera forest in New Zealand, the Atrato River in Colombia, and parts of the Amazon in Ecuador have been recognised as legal persons, no longer treated merely as property, but as a rights-bearing entity that can be represented in court to defend its own interests. For the Reef, this would shift the focus from managing it as a resource for humans to protecting it as a living system in its own right.

Listen to poem:

Barrier Reef is Alive, Let it Speak

I am the reef beneath the sun’s warm sway. 
A thousand years old, yet slipping away. 
Your nets and ships cut deep into my skin, 
But my heart still beats deep in currents within. 

You count me as treasure, a thing to own. 
Yet I am an ecosystem, of coral and stone. 
Grant me my rights to get up and defend,
my waters, my creatures, on whom we depend. 

I shelter the fish, the whale, the sting ray, 
I give them safe harbor, a home to stay. 
Yet you strip my reefs, you plunder my bed, 
Inflame the climate change curse you spread. 

I guide the moon to draw tides in prayer. 
Sprinkle starlight like salt in night's air. 
I arouse wonder in all who swim here and dive.
Yet you deny the rights I need to survive.

You write laws for humankind, and for the sea,
Write me my rights of nature — that’s my plea.
So I can defend my rights with a legal decree. 
Not as your resource, but as a living entity. 
 
I am the Barrier Reef — hear my plea,
Grant me my birthright, my will to be.
If I could speak, I would wail; I would roar.
For you're destroying my life, forevermore.

Let me speak; let my life force arise.
Hear my roar beneath the tides and skies.
I'm not your treasure, not yours to keep.

I am alive; let me the Barrier Reef, speak.
As a unique Natural Wonder with my own voice.
To proclaim my rights; To let the oceans rejoice!

The Barrier Reef is Alive!
Give it a Voice - Let it Speak 
Give it rights - Its Natural Rights!
Give it a Voice - Let it Speak

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Ghairo Daniels August 9, 2025 at 1:15 AM Beautifully & sensitively written, John, on a much neglected & often ignored subject. Singer > right voice & instrumentals for lyrics. Line > if I could speak, I would wail & roar gives such power to song. Blessings for posting this one.. hopes 4 promoting it elsewhere. x. John Anderson August 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM Thanks very much for the feedback. It is an interesting idea. I love the GBR having been there about 12 times, not recently though. Cheers and Best Wishes