I want
extreme birdsong
extreme green
am fortunate to find
these things surround me
I see
extreme anger
in the eyes of drivers
cursing traffic cues
and burning fuel, going nowhere as
I, bicycling, fly by
Extreme clouds pile high
in Northern skies
billow upon billow
rattling out
peal upon peal
of angry thunder
Extreme rain
sends bricks and mortar down the drain:
where will we live then?
Even the third little pig
was unprepared for this big wild wolf
coming
I gather hope
as I head out again
into my realm of
extreme green
delight in birds still thriving
bees still humming.
© 2022 experimentsinfiction.com. All Rights Reserved.
Written for earthweal
This week, Brendan has challenged us to ‘write about the everyday extreme:’
For me there a fundamental reckoning is called for, personally and collectively: If human mastery is a peril the Earth cannot afford and we value our continued existence on this planet, then we had better find systematic ways to reject human mastery. Let’s banish controls heedless of consequence and re-calibrate our fear of the unknown as faith in humility. Fossil-fuel dependence is an addiction, digital mind’s an abomination: From those starting points we may eventually gestate something in the human spirit that will reverse the hockey stock before life is finished on Earth As they say with the Tao, to and fro goes the way — even, perhaps, with the perverse Tao of our maddening reality.
we had better find systematic ways to reject human mastery. Let’s banish controls heedless of consequence and re-calibrate our fear of the unknown as faith in humility: Aww and this is exactly what you shared in your poem. Aww. Tremendous. Thank You. Xoxo
Thank you, Selma! Tree-mendous, I hope 🌳
Tree-mendous indeed. You rock lady 💃🏼 👏
😅❤️🙏
I love extreme green .. 💚🌏🌻💚
“After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on – have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear – what remains? Nature remains.”
“Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth”.
– – -Walt Whitman – – –
I’m with you and WW on this one, Ivor! 🌳
I love extreme green and birdsong–the other things, no. We do seem to be having extremes everywhere.
The photo is stunning.
Thank you, Merril: my hometown is very much in bloom at the moment 😊 🌺 🌸
You’re welcome. It is here, too.
The world does seem extreme right now. We need desperately to find the center. (K)
If only!
This is beautiful and sweet to read. I love it.
Thank you Lamittan most kindly!
You’re most welcome, dear Ingrid. ❤
Some wonderful visuals here, Ingrid. I particularly like ‘traffic cues’ – a lesser writer would have gone straight to ‘queues’, but not you. Thoughtful and thought inspiring, as ever.
Thanks Nick – there’s clues in those cues 😅
Extreme green and birdsong any day over extreme fumes and extreme weather! Wonderful contrasting imagery, Ingrid.
It does seem to be a time of contrasts, Punam, thank you!
You are welcome.
It feels like everything is becoming more extreme – climate anxiety and climate denial, poverty and luxury, politics…everybody needs some of that extreme green – to calm the soul and bring us a little peace.
Extreme, and polarised. The green is certainly an oasis for me!
What a lovely poem! I love how it begins with powerful emotion and winds down to a realization of blessing and appreciation.
Thank you Jaya – I find gratitude in the beauty of nature!
“I gather hope.”
In extreme green and birdsong lie our best hope. I loved this!
Thank you Sherry 🙏
I love that you bicycle, Ingrid. Bike friendly cities are the best! Many benefits for individuals and the climate. Also makes it easier to stop and take photos of gorgeous gardens. 😍 Lovely poem and important message.
My city isn’t the most bike-friendly, but there are some good routes round town! 😃
That helps! Cutting through, may save time, too! 😁
beautiful imagery Ingrid and vivid colors and extremes waking us up to think.
Love the 3 little pig analogy “Even the third little pig
was unprepared for this big wild wolf
coming”. So true! Nicely done! 💖💖
Thanks Cindy 💖
indeed Ingrid! 💖
A lovely poem of possibility and hope. Beautiful, Ingrid. 🌳🌿🌱🚲
Thanks Jeff 🌳🙏
The early modern alchemist/ physician Paracelcus thought like cured like. Extreme green is the physic here — luxurious doses of chlorophyl to rein the mastering mind.
I believe so! Thank you Brendan.
I love the idea of extreme green. ANd the images of you flying along on your bike. And the power of nature in the bricks and mortar being washed away. And then you turn back to the green again. I too find so much comfort in being in nature.
Thank you worms 🙏
So beautiful, Ingrid. Love the imagery.💕
Thank you 💖
My pleasure .💕
Like you I finding hope and solace in the beauty of the natural world. The human world is a mess! Your poem says eloquently.
We try our best to mess with nature, but nature always wins through in the end…
nature will be here long after people have gone
A comforting thought!
I want to surround myself my extreme green and birdsong. Such a lovely image verses the destruction we are creating to this one of a kind planet.
Extreme Green sounds so appealing, Ingrid! It is rapidly disappearing, and the world will be the worse for its disappearance. I love your poem with its unusual images and metaphors and its wise message. <3
I don’t think we could survive without it, Cheryl!
Yes, we need extreme green in both the physical sense and for our mental health and happiness. So stop cutting the trees already!
Nature is our escape from the madness!
And heaven knows, we need one!
Most definitely!! 🙂