Thursday, October 8, 2009

On Nature and Sustainability

What nature leaves behind
when she uses or destroys
still seems to have
some gracious contribution
to the landscape;
some shape or form
which even as it disintegrates
provides a home,
or food,
or fuel,
or even just enhances someone's view,

While we --
who clutter up our lives
with bottles, cans and cellphones,
used equipment and containers --
cannot sustain
but only hoard;
fail to conserve
and litter pristine landscapes
with our old discarded toys.


* * *

6 comments:

Kimberly Mason said...

Amen and amen! Beautiful, beautiful poem!

I have been trying to be more aware of how much waste I am generating, but I know that trying isn't enough. Until recently I had been looking forward to the day when I could buy a new cell phone (my two years are up in March) and now...now I think it's a great phone, does all I need it to do and you've seen my outdoor scenic photos, I took those with my phone camera!

Thanks for the reminder to just "made do".

Ha, I'm also reminded of the t-shirt that my Big Man and son Shane want me to make them: "Save the freakin' whales, Douche Bag!" (
They've been watching "Whale Wars" on TV)

Maureen said...

I came across this phrase on a blog today: "to see a landscape as it is when I am not here".

That line has a lot of different meanings. It seems particularly apt, given your poem.

Diane Walker said...

Thank you both! It seems particularly appropriate to note (by the way) my husband's pet name, back in the day when he was a climber, was "Douche Bag." Can't you just FEEL the synchronicity!

Maureen - sustainability indicators maven - said...

and talk about synchronicity - you got another Maureen to make a comment. I really like the picture - is that on Bainbridge?

Diane Walker said...

Nope, that one was taken up on Hurricane Ridge.

Kimberly Mason said...

LOL That's too much synchronicity for me! Any more like that and I'll start believing in God!