Toy Boats Made of Paper

Poet's Notes
(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Ann Peck.



 

Think, children: what will you tell
your grandchildren when they ask
about Earth--once bursting green
and red and yellow with blossoms
everywhere, and bushes serene 
in shadows of lime-colored trees,
with bird songs filling the air?

I hope you'll remember turquoise seas
brimming with life, color dancing on
water, boats with white sails, beaches,
seagulls, sandpipers, whales. Men fishing
creeks, children's splashing feet, sitting
beneath Summer's lush leaves,
making toy boats made of paper.

I know you'll recall purple mountains so tall,
snow-crested peaks of lilac at eveningfall;
inhaling perfumed blossoms and wonder
of pines, you could hear aspens whispering,
jays poking fun, noisy creeks in their run,
deer peeking quickly behind gentle oaks,
a magical potpourri for the mind.

Grandchildren will smile as you gaze out 
the window, attempting to find memories
of Earth as it was long ago, before losing
our way in pollution's crazed mind. But now
all she can find: industries' emissions, urban pall,
oceans clogged, forests burned, icecaps gone,
plastics, dust, muck, sun going blind...

      toy boats made of paper, bird so.......
forgotten now

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021



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

Date: 12/3/2021 10:43:00 PM
Dear Ann , So very happy to find a kindred soul as well ! Thank you for your visit and comments on my poem . Yes I too love our dear Mother Earth. Your poem is powerful, insightful and sad… I have a visceral response . Beautifully expressed. I look forward to reading more of you and your heart . Big hugs to you , Susan :)
Login to Reply
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 12/20/2021 3:24:00 PM
Dear Susan, Thank you so much for your wonderful comments! It's sad that so many turn a blind eye toward our precious Earth's condition. We may try to save her once it's too late. Your poetry overwhelms me with its beauty! Hugs to you and a Merry Christmas :)
Date: 8/22/2021 12:56:00 AM
A beautifully sad poem Ann that describes just what we are losing. The earth is as fragile as those paper boats you refer to. I sense we've very nearly sailed. Cheers - Gary
Login to Reply
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 8/22/2021 2:23:00 PM
Thank you for much for your comments, Gary. I believe you're right, there's no going back now. We've lost so many species, so many woodlands. And still some deny...
Date: 8/16/2021 8:08:00 AM
Such a horrifying thought train... so sad. God bless you always. You've done an amazing job with this. God bless you. Love, Gina
Login to Reply
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 8/16/2021 3:46:00 PM
Dear Gina, Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, it is a very bleak future we face if we don't start loving Mother Earth. Thanks so much for commenting. And God bless you, too!
Date: 8/14/2021 8:39:00 PM
How poignant, all the beauty of nature now in danger of being lost forever, I will need to return to this one, am faving it!
Login to Reply
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 8/15/2021 9:51:00 AM
Thanks, Michelle! I appreciate that. We'd better hurry if we want to save Mother Earth. That seems to be on the back burner, though.
Date: 8/14/2021 8:04:00 AM
This poem is powerful and accurate. It should wake people up and make them think! The language and descriptions are beautiful until the last stanza when the reality of the future kicks in. More power to you! Thanks for sharing! I would like to be actively activist but at 92 I cannot do everything I wish I could!
Login to Reply
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 8/15/2021 10:04:00 AM
Also, Hooray for you! Writing uncommonly beautiful poetry at 92! It seems, about age 75 is when people tend to put us on the shelf as nice antiques with, of course, no mind. We'll show them!! `
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 8/14/2021 8:49:00 AM
Nor can I, so I try to be an activist through my poetry, but, of course, a lot don't want the truth. Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Barbara. I value your opinions.
Date: 8/12/2021 4:21:00 PM
Hi Ann! I see beauty whereI live,)) Come on down to my backyard..,orange tree, and three enormous pines! People can be oinkers!, no insulting the pigs))... You describe the city I live in to a T, Our lake, kayaking..kids splashing...am sure there are hundred of cities like mine. Well done verses Ann! Panagiota
Login to Reply
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 8/12/2021 7:04:00 PM
Hi Pangi may I call you that? Thanks for your comments. I'm still overwhelmed by your masterpiece POTD! I'm an activist and feel poetry is my voice, so I write a lot of poems people don't want to read. It's necessary. If you have time, read my "Today I Saw Democracy Die." It was earlier this year. I think you would like it :)
Date: 8/9/2021 12:55:00 PM
Lovely work, Ann. When I look around and see nature's beauty and, then, realize what we are doing to it, I want to sit down and sob. Your poem needs wide dissemination, probably starting with POTD!
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 8/9/2021 5:45:00 PM
Absolutely astounding the number of people who simply believe it's all a hoax!
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 8/9/2021 5:07:00 PM
Thank you so much, Milton. We're killing the earth faster than was predicted. News today said EPA issued a Code Red because of global warming. Sometimes I feel like only a few of us realize the enormity of our situation.
Date: 8/9/2021 11:44:00 AM
You bring all the beauty and joy back to me, sweet Anne......lovely lady
Login to Reply
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 8/9/2021 12:24:00 PM
Thanks, Suzanne. I just read that the major weather system, which gives us El Nino and La Nina, isn't functioning correctly. I didn't word this well, but it's major. Thanks for your sweet comments :)
Date: 8/9/2021 10:52:00 AM
Beautiful descriptions. Enjoyed reading. Thanks for sharing. I echo your sentiments
Login to Reply
Peck Avatar
Ann Peck
Date: 8/9/2021 12:19:00 PM
Thanks, Rama. It's disappearing before our eyes. Few butterflies this year, almost no bunnies. My heart breaks.
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter