Notes About The Poem

Originally published: 27th February 2024

Photo: Wentworth Castle Gardens South Yorkshire UK / gR 2022


The Ballad Of Two Young Lovers

where the pipeline meets the lake
spewing sewage in its wake
several snowdrops grow and help to paint God’s earth

and as acid rains from clouds
upon the litter strewn by crowds
lines of daffodils speak more than words are worth.

next to piles of household waste 
tipped by those who fly in haste
there are bluebells growing wild on urban floors

and as plumes of factory smoke
suffocate disperse and choke
there are birds migrating to these hallowed shores.

where graffiti daubs the wall
of society’s wrecking ball
there’s a patch where tulips dance beneath our sky

and as shards of broken glass
lie in pieces on the grass
two young lovers holding hands walk slowly by.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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George Avatar
April 20, 2026 at 9:31 AM
The concluding lines give a special twist to the whole poem. I thought, it was a tirade on the total disrespect shown by man against nature.
Radice Avatar
April 20, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Hi Valsa! Thank you for your visit and comments. Much appreciated. Cheers - Gary
Ashley Avatar
August 11, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Dear Gary, indeed, where there is a seed, a pulse, a new love, where there is life and love, there's a will to push up, push forward, push through, and where there is appreciation for all this, there is hope. Your beautiful poem gives us textured contrasts between hope (in nature and in ourselves) and humanity's greed and disrespect for one another, other living things and our environment. A deep, thought-provoking poem delivered with your wonderful poetic flair. Congratulations for your success In Mark's contest. Warmest wishes, my poetic friend.. ~Susan
Radice Avatar
August 11, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Thank you Susan for your continued support and encouragement.. It's always a pleasure to read your insightful and beautifully written comments. Cheers - Gary
Dietrich Avatar
August 9, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Great contrasts of the good and bad in society . nature vs. man it feels like. Congrats on a great win.
Radice Avatar
August 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Thanks Andrea. Much appreciated. With so much wrong in the world at the moment I felt that I should write a poem about hope. The two young lovers represent that hope. I'll add that nature is just so resilient and we need nature more than nature needs us :). Thanks again for your valued comments. Cheers - Gary
Miller Avatar
August 9, 2025 at 7:14 AM
'Words are worth' ;-) great poem Gary
Radice Avatar
August 9, 2025 at 11:52 AM
:) Thanks Terry. Yeah, a little cheeky Wordsworth moment for my poem. Ironically his daffodils poem doesn't float my boat at all but I couldn't resist it. :) Cheers - Gary
Toney Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Gary, congratulations on your top 10 win on Mile 4 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. Love your environmental message wrapped in a love poem! Very clever. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 5 has already started.
Radice Avatar
August 9, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Thanks Mark. I'll be there for mile 4 but running out of breath already :) Cheers - Gary
Hind Avatar
July 30, 2024 at 9:02 PM
Oh, lovin' your style! A beautiful and unique piece.
Radice Avatar
July 31, 2024 at 2:14 AM
I’m happy how this one came together. I’m glad you like it. Cheers - Gary
Bowring Avatar
April 11, 2024 at 11:31 PM
Such a beautiful, reflective poem dear Gary. So vivid. I love how you have used flowers here and the young lovers to bring hope and new life amongst our disrespected and decaying planet. The daffodil line is especially wonderful. Very clever. The contrasts in each stanza does bring so much hope as nature continues to give its beauty. This poignant piece is written from a true poet’s heart - I’m glad you’re still here and given us such magnificent pieces. Please continue :)
Radice Avatar
April 12, 2024 at 4:58 AM
Thanks so much Christina for your lovely words. I honestly believe nature doesn't rely on humans but humans rely on nature. Cheers - Gary
Crandall Avatar
April 5, 2024 at 8:33 AM
This is a beautiful poem. I'm new to poetry, and I like your poems, because I can understand them, and they are elegantly and eloquently expressed. In the long term, after humans are gone, the earth will be just fine. We're just a temporary blight. No, I don't feel that grim, there will always be young lovers, and thanks God for that!
Radice Avatar
April 5, 2024 at 11:23 AM
That's really nice of you to say so David, thank you. I like to think my poetry is immediately accessible as it's the type of poetry I like to read myself. I appreciate all your comments. Cheers - Gary
Goldsmith Avatar
March 24, 2024 at 8:45 AM
WOW!!! What a powerful write. I enjoyed  reading this one. Have a blessed day...............
Radice Avatar
March 24, 2024 at 12:42 PM
Thank you Paula! I will! :) Cheers - Gary
Sambourne Avatar
March 13, 2024 at 8:45 AM
The endurance of nature despite the human litter + waste that obliterats greenery is a message worth retaining. Persistent seeds are worth celebrating in the midst of decline just as love survives war. A grand poem, indeed. Best wishes, Brian
Radice Avatar
March 13, 2024 at 12:37 PM
Hi Brian. Hope all is well. It’s always a pleasure to read your comments. Thank you. I’ll click over to your page tomorrow to catch up with your latest. Read you soon. Cheers - Gary
Kavanagh  Avatar
March 11, 2024 at 4:16 PM
Very deep and hard hitting Gary, just like that wrecking ball of society you allude to, some brilliant word plays in here too, the fly tipping one is very cleverly written, a sad and all too familiar picture of our countryside, sorry I’m only seeing it now, it’s a brilliant piece of work, cheers David
Radice Avatar
March 12, 2024 at 12:20 AM
Hi David. Thanks for the comments. The idea for the poem came in the main from a walk near to where I live and I must add too, in part, from your own poem here at The Soup 'The Bear Necessities' :) Cheers - Gary
Faulkner Avatar
March 9, 2024 at 11:48 AM
Yes, nature is resilient against the man made structures which seek to suppress them, also like your nod to wordsworth daffodils poem I think it was? Let's hope the birds and flowers find a happier tomorrow~
Radice Avatar
March 10, 2024 at 1:30 AM
Michelle, thank you for your complimentary and insightful comments. Yes, there is a nod to Wordsworth in there..I’m not his greatest fan by any means but I like the first few lines of his poem describing the beauty of the daffodils. I really like the way flowers can be so resilient. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary
Greenhough Avatar
March 9, 2024 at 11:38 AM
Rebirth and hope. This is a wonderful poem. I hope there will be a day when it doesn't need to be mentioned.
Radice Avatar
March 10, 2024 at 1:36 AM
Thanks Hilda. I’ll cross my fingers and hope that there does come a day when we don’t have to worry about the earth’s future. We can hope. Cheers - Gary
Beaufort Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 10:13 AM
Gary, I'm thinking the earth would recover relatively easily if we could change our ways. You say your poem is about hope, and I think that it does a great job of inspiring that emotion and feeling for me. A wonderful and inspiring read.
Radice Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 10:56 AM
Thanks Duke. I appreciate your visit and comments. Tbh I was a little worried that this poem would come across as 'preachy'. I wanted to say just how it is but wished to concentrate on the hope and present it by way of nature and the two young lovers. I'm glad you liked it. Cheers - Gary
Rose  Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 9:00 AM
wow I so love this rhyming scheme and form, you do it so well, :)
Radice Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 9:44 AM
Thanks so much Mystic Rose Rose. I'm not sure if the rhyme scheme has an official name but the poem just fell into it. :) Cheers - Gary
Kendrick Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 8:19 AM
Sadness interspersed with beauty as is the wonder of young love. Thanks for sharing this one with us and for dropping by my page. I plan to fav it. Sara K
Radice Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 8:44 AM
Thank you Sara. I appreciate your lovely comments. Cheers - Gary
Nicholsen Avatar
March 4, 2024 at 4:35 AM
Awesome write I truly adored reading your work.
Radice Avatar
March 4, 2024 at 4:49 AM
That's very kind of you Yolanda, thank you. Cheers - Gary
Kauffman Avatar
February 29, 2024 at 2:55 PM
Oh, Gary, I am completely enchanted by this poem that parallels the horrific ways we have tried to destroy our earth and the power of hope and love to survive in the worst of circumstances. So masterfully composed! I do love your poems. And your gift of observation - railway stations, cafes by the sea, aqueducts - feeds your poet's soul with inspiration and imagery then gifts us with wonderful poems! This is a fav for me! Thank you! Blessings and cheers!
Radice Avatar
February 29, 2024 at 9:53 PM
Hi Sam. Thanks for your lovely comments. A few months ago I was on the cusp of burnout from poetry and had more or less decided to leave what was up here at The Soup and move onto other things. From somewhere I've found a second wind and I put it down to Soupers like yourself whose support has proved invaluable. Cheers - Gary
Kulkarni Avatar
February 28, 2024 at 11:25 AM
How well you have described contrast in every stanza, Gary! God's love is surrounding us everywhere we go!! Thank you for sharing this. -Smita
Radice Avatar
February 28, 2024 at 11:53 AM
Thank you Smita. I wasn't sure how well this poem would go down with Soupers but I feel vindicated following the comments I've received so far and now the lovely comments from yourself. Cheers - Gary
Greenhough Avatar
February 27, 2024 at 1:28 PM
I love this poem I have seem most of these images of destruction myself. The single bloom gives hope. I enjoyed reading this poem
Radice Avatar
February 27, 2024 at 2:10 PM
Thanks Hilda. Hopefully the next generation will help bring a sense of balance and awareness back to our world. Cheers - Gary
Rodgers Avatar
February 27, 2024 at 7:01 AM
Dear Gary, Your poem is powerful. The stark images of environmental destruction juxtaposed with the enduring beauty of nature and love create a moving contrast. It shows us that even in darkness, hope persists like lovers walking hand-in-hand amidst the chaos. Loved it! - Blessings, Daniel
Radice Avatar
February 27, 2024 at 7:06 AM
Thank you Daniel. In my mind I attached the subtitle "Hope For Tomorrow" to this poem. There has to be hope doesn't there? Thanks again. Much appreciated. Cheers - Gary
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