Hands Off

A beautiful landscape all clustered with trees
Among the bright flowers the buzzing of bees
A babbling brook and warm summer breeze
The frolic of beavers on the cool beach sand
The air that they breathe unscented by man 
No human hands have touched this land

Look in the distance, what’s that bright gleam
Sun glinting off new shovels and axes of a ditch digging team
Man is coming to clear; then erect steel beam
Work is done at a feverish pace
The buyers are anxious to move into the place
 
The work now done has left on the site
A skyscraper shinning like a star in the night
But, the truth of this building is devastation widespread
Can’t find the brook; as it is now a dry bed
Old growth trees are cut down and dead
Birds have nowhere to give birth  
Flowers are crushed under earth
Bees are unable to find pollen of worth
The beach is now a slab of concrete
Never again to bear the beavers feet

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Constance La France

Date: 3/2/2021 3:23:00 PM

Warren, congratulations on your honorable in Carolyn's contest _Constance

Warren Doll
Date: 7/1/2021 11:26:00 AM

Constance, thanks so much~ Warren

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 3/1/2021 11:50:00 AM

I like the poem's content and its focus on species that are disappearing due to construction. It was beyond the limit of 8-14 lines. Congrats on your HM. Best wishes, carolyn

Warren Doll
Date: 7/1/2021 11:35:00 AM

Carolyn, It was flattering to receive HM. I must have missed the length rule. All the best~ Warren

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 10/31/2018 8:11:00 AM

So sad and true. Makes me think of the old song lyrics “ Pave paridise and put up a parking lot.”

Warren Doll
Date: 11/6/2018 9:08:00 AM

"Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got til its gone" Thanks for your visit and support, Richard. All the best~ Warren

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 5/22/2018 1:44:00 PM

- Many beautiful nature is destroyed by humans - Animals are already extinct due to humans - And not least: the ecosystem will be destroyed ... how will the future look like ? - A disaster - An important and great writing, Warren - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Warren Doll
Date: 5/22/2018 1:59:00 PM

Hi Anne-Lise, So glad to hear from you! Jan Allison's poem "The Nightingale Has Had Its Day" got me thinking about what we are doing to our planet and was the catalyst for me writing my poem. Your compliments are much appreciated.-A big hug back to you-Warren:)

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 5/20/2018 10:10:00 PM

Warren, this went to my favorites list. You have expressed my feelings about the poor wildlife, and how cruel we have become.

Warren Doll
Date: 5/21/2018 8:40:00 AM

Caren, I'm honored that you added this to your favorite list. I believe that greed is powering this cruelty to wildlife and the environment,

Jan Allison

Date: 5/20/2018 4:45:00 PM

So so sad Warren and its happening all over the world ... the destruction of an animals natural habitat so man can have a new home to live in... and they say we are a civilised society, man has so much to answer for-( :-( hugs Jan xx

Warren Doll
Date: 5/21/2018 8:31:00 AM

Jan, your poem "The Nightingale Has Had Its Day" got me thinking about all the environmental destruction. I think we are starting to pay for it with super destructive storms; due to global warming. Thanks so much for your comments. :) Warren