“Everything the light touches is our kingdom” but
we don’t see it, therein lies the problem:
we want to call a certain patch of land “ours”
so we can keep it, and
a certain group of people “ours”
so we can disregard all of the others, and
the planet “ours”
so we don’t have to pay attention to
the other species
until
it’s too late
they’ve all died out
there’s nothing left, even to feed us
everything the light touches
turned to darkness
burned to ash
fossil fuels
accelerant
to our
self-wrought
demise.
Everything the light touches
is our inheritance, and the inheritance of
every living creature on this earth
which we should cherish
with a light touch
for not only our homes, our lands,
even our continents
are truly ours, but this whole earth
is every creature’s sanctuary, and
each and every one of us
a cosmic refugee.
© Experimentsinfiction 2021, All Rights Reserved
Written for dVerse
Another post inspired by Mish’s Poetics prompt, in which she asked us to incorporate a famous movie quote into our poetry. This time I’ve chosen “Everything the light touches is our kingdom.” from The Lion King, 1994. I am sharing with Open Link Night, and also with earthweal for Brendan’s sanctuary challenge. I’ve been thinking a lot about this subject as I prepare The Anthropocene Hymnal for publication.
And here’s my favourite song from the movie. A bit cheesy I know, but I can’t help it, I feel the love!
Indeed… and when we learn that we get more by sharing, not less. The cult of ME is very strong among humans.
Unfortunately it is at the moment. All this Facebook and Instagram selfie culture probably don’t help, but the politicians love it because we’re so divided they can do whatever they like knowing we won’t fight back!
An excellent message, and use of the quote. Global warming, gun control, immigration, and civil rights–all glaring problems that we, through our Congress, are not addressing adequately. Dark money and cheesy politicians rule. We have to concentrate on those anti-vaccine folks first; sigh.
I just said in my comment to Björn: rampant individualism/divide and conquer politics is giving way too much power to dangerous politicians.
An all-encompassing pro-social message, smoothly delivered, that so many of us just don’t seem to get. I don’t know why, it being so self-evident & all… Great stuff, Ingrid.
It should be simple, shouldn’t it? Thanks Ron.
Every animal has a territory, but humans want the whole planet, the universe and beyond! It has to be one of the worst traits humans have, the one that causes wars, hunger and all the evil in the world, and you’ve summed it up succinctly in this poem, Ingrid. I love the ‘light touch’ of the second stanza. If only…
It’s greed isn’t it? And also being misled by lies, and mis-sold a dream which has no value.
Poignant and beautiful Ingrid. A warm embrace. Many of the first people of North America had specific places they would occupy, many were nomadic, following the seasons or try herds. Most all considered the idea of ownership of a part of the earth a very foreign idea. They were aware that it was shared with all living things.The Europeans rolled in and that beautiful idea got trampled, along with idea of living in balance with the earth.
This makes me think of Pochontas: ‘You think you own whatever land you land on…’ I know it’s rich coming from Disney but it’s a good song. There’s also Randy Newman’s ‘The Great Nations of Europe’ which says it pretty well…
Wow! This is timely, though it has never been not timely. Somewhere someone is always owning that “light”. Brimming with wisdom here, Ingrid. That closing phrase echoes loudly.
Thank you. If we could only visualise the earth as it really is, our life raft floating through the vastness of space, perhaps we’d take better care of it.
“the inheritance of / every living creature on this earth” — Exactly!
Thank you Ken! Not just us.
Pearl Jam calls it green disease, and I’m not sure there is any cure 🙁
We can only try to cure ourselves and lead by example I suppose!
<3
Well said Ingrid. An important message for humanity that needs to be heard. The song is not cheesy at all ☺️👍💕
Thank you Christine! Elton John can be cheesy but man, I love him anyway 🤩
The Lion King was one if my favorite musicals. 🥰
Loving the beautiful way you weave this inspiring and captivating quote into your poem multiple times! Each new line adopts on a new meaning while also returning to former words as a way to draw in and bind together the message.
The message in this poem is relevant. Yet, we as a human race stand together and make the light brighter.
I like your use of the word inheritance and how it really ties what happens to the earth to our legacy and treatment of the planet. Cosmic refugees, has such a great sound to it. We are blessed with this planet of life-giving light.
“this whole earth
is every creature’s sanctuary, and
each and every one of us
a cosmic refugee.”
A perfect view.
Thank you 🙏
Exactly. Well said. And your Anthropocene Hymnal sounds fascinating. I am sorry I missed the call.
Thank you! Maybe next time? Perhaps you’d be interested in providing an advanced review…
I would love to.
Great, thank you! Could you please email me experimentsinfiction@protonmail.com ?
Sure.
Totally commenting in the wrong place – not sure how I managed that. 🙂
Oh WOW, Ingrid. This covers all bases and checks all boxes. Stellar write!
Thank you Beverly!
Spoken like a true Preacher Ingrid!!!
I’d pay for a front row seat for those pearls💖❣️👏👏
Thank you Cindy ❤️🙏🌟
💖❤️👏
A wonderful and pressing message, well done! ~peace, Jason
Thanks Jason!
I love this Ingrid! You have an anthem saying “We are the World” and the world is us. A Prophetic poem for sure!
If only more people realised it! But knowing it is still comforting 😊
:>)
but this whole earth
is every creature’s sanctuary
This sums it all Ingrid. The right not to divorce it from every living creature’s reach. Great writing!
Hank
If only we’d treat it that way! Thanks Hank.
This really comes through in your poetry, Ingrid. You have a lovely heart <3
-David
Thank you David! ❤️ 🌎 ❤️
Too true, unfortunately
‘This whole earth is every creature’s sanctuary’ . If only we could see that. Thought provoking and heartfelt write.
Yes, if only! Thank you 😊
Biggest human mistake, thinking light can be owned and wielded. Your final line reminds us that all of earth is sanctuary from cosmic malice. -b
Yes, imagine the mess we would make of life on Mars if we can’t make it on a perfectly habitable planet!
Beautifully said, and true. (K)
Thank you Kerfe.
There’s nothing wrong with feeling the love. Nicely said, Ingrid.
I haven’t see The Lion King since my kids were young, but a few years ago, our younger daughter directed a middle-school production of The Lion King, Jr. It was very bare bones, but still surprisingly moving.
I love school musicals 😍
Some more than others. 😏
it seems we bipeds then offer a corollary – ‘and every light place we touch, we turn to darkness’.
Sadly yes!
wow such a powerful msg, so fluently articulated!
We are indeed all cosmic refugees … that levels us out. We must be inclusive as exclusivity has not healed us … love ELton!
Thanks Kate!
always a pleasure Ingrid, you have real talent!
Yes. “Ours” = the whole world’s, with all its life. Not ours, as just lions or human beings… 🙏