Today a verse that focusses on the role of humanity on our planet. On Earth Day, I think about how we are driving ourselves to extinction as fast as we possibly can. I do hope that all the good things people try to do will have some slowing effect, but I'm always doubtful that humanity will change its ways. A poet from the early years of the 20th century, Harold Monro was prescient, foreseeing the population explosion that would sweep through the coming century. His poem The Earth for Sale is very critical of the effect of humanity on the earth; I present to you the opening and closing stanzas, and hope that you will be sufficiently intrigued to read the entire poem.The Earth for Sale
How perilous life will become on earth
When the great breed of man has covered all.
The world, that was too large, will be too small.
Deserts and mountains will have been explored,
Valleys swarmed through; and our prolific breed,
Exceeding death ten million times by birth,
Will halt (bewildered, bored),
And then may droop and dwindle like an autumn weed.
When the great breed of man has covered all.
The world, that was too large, will be too small.
Deserts and mountains will have been explored,
Valleys swarmed through; and our prolific breed,
Exceeding death ten million times by birth,
Will halt (bewildered, bored),
And then may droop and dwindle like an autumn weed.
How shall we meet that moment when we know
There is no room to grow;
******
******
Man makes himself believe he has claim
To plant bright flags on every hill he swarms;
But in the end, and in his own wild name,
And for the better prospect of his fame,
Whether it be a person or a race,
Earth, with a smiling face,
Will hold and smother him in her large arms.
To plant bright flags on every hill he swarms;
But in the end, and in his own wild name,
And for the better prospect of his fame,
Whether it be a person or a race,
Earth, with a smiling face,
Will hold and smother him in her large arms.
Harold Monro
Thanks for sharing those beautiful stanzas
ReplyDelete