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Death Foretold

Unwind, to dream,
beneath canopies of willow-trees,
picturing sunflowers smile
at summer skies,
charting sun’s orbit till violet eve.
Vast terrains pretend to slumber,
guarded by languid owl-eyes
stalking slinky felines
and other unseen creatures of night.

I doze under my leafy umbrella
as frogs croak the onset of dawn,
heralding showers reflected by rainbows.
I circumnavigate mountain lakes,
view the source of brooks
meandering through golden prairies.

Dreaming, I recite wondrous poems
dormant in memories of the dead.
Mirages: Gothic cathedrals, the Taj Mahal,
Roman aqueducts arched over Italic olive groves,
Alexandria’s library perished by Poseidon’s will.

Lies and carnage disrupt my trance.
Where has love gone,
where the chubby toes and children’s giggles?
Why does blossom wither by waysides
and toxic waste dull sapphire seas?
Distressed shipwrecked migrants;
refugees seeking a salubrious life,
or just a life...
I conjure up dust-bowls on Austral steppes,
Amazonia gutted by russet roads,
thawing glaciers crashing
down Andean slopes.
Crude realities denied by humankind.

We should offer a toast to Gaia,
her mysteries and riddles,
to the paradox of her existence and ours.
Reality is the destruction we have caused her.
It is mourning a death foretold,
not her death but ours.

Review Request (Intensity): 
I appreciate moderate constructive criticism
Review Request (Direction): 
How does this theme appeal to you?
Is the internal logic consistent?
Last few words: 
Rachel Carson, James Lovelock and many others wrote books long ago about humankind's destruction of the planet. They were laughed at.
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

wow, The first part of this poem I had pictured myself soaring over the land taking in all I saw
but then I came crashing down to reality
beautifully written error and suggestion free

Chrys

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Dear lynn, thanks for your visit and I'm sorry about writing mostly on dark subjects. Yes, it's meant to be a dream or a vision and then reality hits one in the face. Maybe Covid will be cured, but nobody is going to stop climate change any time soon. The powerful don't care. We have Bolsonaro next door.
All the best, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment

to another recently, I am reminded of a friend who once said to me; " Some day Mother Nature is going to get tired of mankind and shake us all off." I asked him what he meant, and he said; that; " We are like the rest of the animals that over-populated and destroyed their habitat and that when she has had enough, she will just let us go the way of any other animal. We are not special". I found your story mesmorizing and well told. ~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

Dear Geez, you're so right. We're not special, my belief is that we're the worst animals on the planet. Human beings supposedly have a conscience, feelings and a rational as well as an instinctual make up, so why do we devastate our beautiful home? ´
Many scientists and other people have been predicting all this for decades, but they were considered mavericks. James Lovelock and Rachel Carson come to mind right now.
Thank you for your encouraging words. I wish I could write happier poems, but they don't seem to come to me.
All the best, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment

Dear Teddy, thanks for the bow! Appreciated and I return one to you. Yes, a dream or vision and then a wake up to reality. Sadly, we might have a vaccine for Covid, but we're going nowhere good with climate change. As I said to Geez, we're the worst animals on this fantastic Earth.
I'm pleased to say that Spring is in the air here in Patagonia, tho' we're still going to have some welcome rain and maybe snow. Walks in my neighborhood are enjoyable, I'm going for one in a short while.
In what part of Italy do you live? Would love to visit Europe again.
All the best, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment

Dear Teddy, it must be wonderful in Tuscany, I wish I could travel again. I hope you enjoyed your days at the coast. All the best to you and your family, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment

we all are bacteria
scientifically
all else is melody

we all will vanish slowly
as humans are taken over digitally
none will then have emotions
like ROBOTS
like me and ye

no need of dark poetry
all will be slotted
to the slotting machine
no big bacteria like us
will ever again be seen
AND
this surely
I mean

Dear lovedly, I enjoy your comments in verse! Yes, we're all bacteria and will disappear. Did you see the series Mr. Robot, with Rami Malek, who later played Freddy Mercury?
I'm not sure we'll even have time to make ourselves into robots, climate disaster will strike soon. We may cure Covid, but not the climate.
Hope all is OK, best, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment
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