Earth Today

.

Our earth ails, pales

deforestation rules –

trees ripped from the soil

while the desert encroaches

inch by scorched inch

leaving space in the race

for man-made rocks, structures

to house, plots to feed

ever-expanding populations

ugly erections pumping thick

black smoke into the air –

the air that we breathe –

ban cigarettes, but leave

toxic contaminants from exhausts

from chimneys made ever higher

sending pollution into space

ha! pretending that there’s

a difference in quality

and what goes up stays up

never comes down in air or rain

to be seen or breathed

again…

.

©Denise G Allen, 07 May 2013 19:31

Refer to comment made on COP 18: http://theenergycollective.com/gail-tverberg/221536/reaching-limits-finite-world#comment-59536

TREES

Trees

TREES

There are trees and trees
Standing in the sunlight
Shooting the breeze,
Grandpa’s and grannies,
Mommies and daddies,
Babies cute and small,
Soldiers in a row
Standing straight and tall,
Branches open wide
Giving welcome shade,
While some trees grow,
Provide a sheltered glade
With seclusion for lovers
Or concealment for others.

Image and poem: ©Denise G Allen, 09 February 2013 16:35

White Rhinocerus

Pilanesberg – White Rhinocerus 1

Pilanesberg – White Rhinocerus 2

Pilanesberg – White Rhinocerus 3

Pilanesberg – Rhinocerus 4

Pilanesberg – Rhinocerus 5

Pilanesberg – Rhinocerus 6

Some very similar photographs of rhino just because we are probably nearing the end of their existence.

White Rhinocerus

Armour plating
Backdating
Marching through time
Walking in rhyme
Mounting defences
Increasing their chances
Strength in numbers
Dwindling fast
Warning thunders
Reach out from the past
Money speaks
History weeps

Photographs and poem ©Denise G Allen, 07 February 2013 06:21

Searching…

.

The view from a picnic site where we stopped to stretch our legs:

Pilanesberg – View

Here we have a group of Blou Wildebeeste (direct translation: Blue Wild Beasts/Animals). There were many herds of these scattered throughout the park, often accompanied by zebra.

Pilanesberg – Blou Wildebeeste

A Blou Wildebees male:

Pilanesberg – Blou Wildebees

Searching…

Our eyes focus on the distant hills,
Scour the savannah below,
Then comb the undergrowth
Seeking a sign that we’re not alone.
Many a time we see
A giraffe’s head perched on a tree
And, as the road winds, all too often we find
He’s watching the view while he dines..
We came across a few giraffe at the side of the road. The first picture shows the giraffe gazing rather vacantly in our direction. The second photo shows a distinct change in his expression – mainly the set of his ears which are usually expressive in most animals – and his mouth.

Pilanesberg – Giraffe

Pilanesberg – Giraffe

Images and post ©Denise G Allen, 03 February 2013 22:28

Symbiosis

 .

The coolest draft wafts

 Through the branches of the tree,

Ruffling its leaves

As I lie curled up with my book

In the elbow of its crook;

With creaks and groans like old bones,

Branches spread wide overhead,

Roots range far across this resting place,

The quick nourished by the dead,

This cemetery comforts me

With Life’s circle of eternity.

.

©DGA 08 June 2012 11:21

Dusk in Africa

.

The calm of the jungle at dusk,

The soft sounds of creatures

Returning from the waterhole, spent:

Crackling branches, bodies brushing

Against dry bushes as they went.

.

Silence descended slowly as night fell.

We sat relaxed around the fire,

At ease in the surrounding peace,

Sipping our after-dinner drinks

And dreaming of the morrow.

.

ROAR!

RROOAARR!  The second, a demanding bellow

Then a series of grunts to follow:

GRUNT, GRUNT, grunt, grunt, g r u n t…

Fading slowly until dead…

Silence dropped heavily back in the hollow

And we all retreated to bed.

.

©DGA 24 January 2012 09:33

The Dream 2

.

Birds abound

Strewn around

On the ground

They don’t cry

Mute acceptance in their eyes

Too little air

The trees are bare

The drought severe

Grass seeds depleted

The birds are defeated

They cannot fly

Exhausted they lie

Too tired to try

.

Kyoto Protocol Signatories: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kyoto_Protocol_signatories

©DGA 15 December 2011 15:49

The Dream

.

Wild horses scream across my dream,

Dust puffs from their hooves

Rise from the arid ground,

Rolling eyeballs red with blood,

Foam flecks flying from their mouths,

Shapes shift in short shrift,

Clouds move and meld as I watch

There in the ozone God’s own movie show.

.

©DGA 15 December 2011 06:08

Seen and Unseen

       

.

Seen and Unseen

.

Shape shifting

Ever changing

Shadow blending

Never ending

Now you see it

Now you don’t

There one moment

Gone the next

Fluid flowing

Coming, going

Imagination

Inspiration

Conservation

Camouflage

Nature’s disguise

To thwart

Our eyes

.

Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Great_male_Leopard_in_South_Afrika-JD.JPG

©DGA 03 December 2011 13:42

Slow the World Down

.

Things are moving too fast

Rushing from first to last

Racing from beginning to end

What happens if we come to a bend

Faster and faster we whirl

Our brains are delayed as we twirl

We get slightly concussed

And our judgement is mussed

And what we have to confess

Is why our world’s in a mess

Deadlines with red lines

Exchange rates and datelines

To say nothing of fraud and corruption

Plus conservation disruption

.

©DGA 30 November 2011 17:31