Five Fingers Grasping The Earth

  a poem about the natural environment




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   UNPOLLUTED BY SUPERNATURAL SOLUTIONS
   WE PRESERVE AN EVER-EVOLUTING REALITY
THE RESIDENTS OF THIS ONE REALM
ROVE NO WORLD IN SEARCH OF EVER MORE
HOW TO PUT AN END TO PERPETUAL GROWTH
-- PRICELESS FREE FROM PROFIT
BAD THINGS WAX AND WAX AND RUN TO WASTE

                  ***

   MEMBERS OF SELF-EXISTENT SPECIES
HATE THE NOTION OF A HEAVEN ABOVE NATURE
THEY
NEED NOT LOOK DOWN ON AN ADOBE ABODE
LOW-HANDED ANIMALS
MUST NOT HAVE A HAND IN POLLUTION
   THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS ONE REALM
GAVE ME
A BURGEONING LOVE FOR PLANTS
OR HOMELINESS IN A SILVAN SETTING

THE HARBINGER OF A GLOBAL SUMMER
COULDN'T KILL GEESE THAT LAY GOLDEN EGGS
THE LAST TRAIL MAY NOW HAVE BEEN BLAZED
   PART OF THE WASTING WORLD ARE
THOSE UNABLE TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST
WATCH PRIMATES WHO PRAY, PREY ON YOU!

                  ***

      MERLE AND ROBIN,
   YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO SEE THAT
THE ENVIRONMENT IS A VICTIM OF ITS MAN!

   NATURALLY, NOT SUPERNATURALLY,
      THE SMART THAT DO NOT SMOKE
MAY BE BAREFOOT AND YET AWARE THAT
FINE FURS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS
THE DENIZENS OF THE DEEP
WALK WELL-NIGH HAND IN HAND WITH US
BAD THINGS WAX AND WAX AND RUN TO WASTE
   THE DUSK OF GREED'S DOOM GATHERS OVER
THE FOUL OF BODY, OF MIND
HAD YOU KNOWN THIS IN ADVANCE ...

   I AM BRIGHT ENOUGH TO NOTICE THAT
FINE FURS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS

                  ***

A DETERMINED VEGETARIAN
LIVES ON A FAMILIAL FOOTING WITH
THOSE LEADING AN INCREATE LIFE
      IN NEED OF GRASPING THE NETTLE,
   NO MORE MADNESS, HOWEVER CIVILIZED

FIGURES IN GOOD FEATHER
WALK WELL-NIGH HAND IN HAND WITH
EVERYONE
      FOR NATURE'S SAKE,
   EXPLOITED BY SEEKERS AFTER POWER

PEERLESS WERE FIELDS PAVED WITH FLOWERS
THE LAST TRAIL MAY NOW HAVE BEEN BLAZED
   HOW LONG DELIVERED INTO ELECT HANDS,
PRICELESS FREE FROM PROFIT

HOW TO PUT AN END TO PERPETUAL GROWTH
THE LOW OF HERDS IS HEARD NO LONGER
   ONCE ABOUNDING IN EVERYTHING,
REDUCED TO A RAMPIKE IN ITSELF

                  ***

   NOT EFFACING NATURE'S FINGERFLOWERS,
   MEMBERS OF SELF-EXISTENT SPECIES
INCLUDE KITH AND KIN OF ANY KIND
THEY
NEED NOT LOOK DOWN ON AN ADOBE ABODE
A BIRD IN THE HAND BELONGS IN THE BUSH
   REDUCED TO A RAMPIKE IN ITSELF,
TO BE RESTORED TO ITS PRISTINE STATE

                  ***

   THE ANIMATE IN INANIMATE MILIEUS
NEED TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
YOU
HAD BETTER NOT DISTURB BIRDS WITH STONES
ON ALL FOURS IS NO SHAME!
-- AS VARIED AS SASSAFRAS LEAVES
GOOD THINGS WAX AND WANE, YET REMAIN
   YOUR DREAD IS THE DOMINANCE OF
THOSE UNABLE TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST
PEERLESS WERE FIELDS PAVED WITH FLOWERS
I MAY FEAR OR BEFRIEND YOU
   WITH EVENHANDED JUSTICE IN VIEW
GOOD THINGS WAX AND WANE, YET REMAIN
   YOUR DREAD IS THE DOMINANCE OF
THE CREATURES OF DESTRUCTION
DOES THIS EARTH BELONG TO ITS WASTER?

A BIRD IN THE HAND BELONGS IN THE BUSH
   PART OF THE WASTING WORLD ARE
THOSE DEVOURING THEIR OWN DELIGHTS
HOW TO SET BOUNDS TO SOARING BUSINESS

HOW TO SET BOUNDS TO SOARING BUSINESS
-- TO BE RESTORED TO ITS PRISTINE STATE
NURTURE, TOO, NEEDS NATURE
   THE TELLURIANS OF THE LAND
MAY BE NONPRINCIPLED, NOT UNPRINCIPLED
WE
HAD BETTER NOT DISTURB BIRDS WITH STONES
HOW TO PUT AN END TO PERPETUAL GROWTH
FINE FURS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS
   BUTTER, FLIES, BUT NO BUTTERFLIES,
BUTTER, FLIES, BUT NO BUTTERFLIES

   NOT EFFACING NATURE'S FINGERFLOWERS,
   YOU
CONSIDER YOUR DESCENDANTS TO-BE TOO
THOSE WITH FINGERS AND TOES
OUGHT NOT TO RAPE OUR COMMON LAND
GOOD THINGS WAX AND WANE, YET REMAIN
   AND YET, THEY ARE PART OF NATURE,
THE CREATURES OF DESTRUCTION
HAD YOU KNOWN THIS IN ADVANCE ...

YOU CAN HEAR AND BEHOLD
BLACKBIRDS ON LESS LEAFY BOUGHS
   VALUING THE BEAUTY OF VERNAL BLOOM
THE HARBINGER OF A GLOBAL SUMMER
LIVES ON A FAMILIAL FOOTING WITH
AN UNFEATHERED BIPED
   IN QUEST OF HUMANE LOVING-KINDNESS,
   BARRING A DOMINION BENT ON SUBMISSION

THE SMART THAT DO NOT SMOKE
SHARE THIS GLOBE WITH LOW-HANDED ANIMALS
   IN QUEST OF HUMANE LOVING-KINDNESS,
      UNDER A BLANKET OF WASTE ALMOST

THE TELLURIANS OF THE LAND
DESERVE WELL OF
MEMBERS OF SELF-EXISTENT SPECIES
   IN QUEST OF HUMANE LOVING-KINDNESS
   EVERYONE PLUCKS A ROSE IN POETRY ONLY
BLACKBIRDS ON LESS LEAFY BOUGHS
SHOULD NOT SLAY THE LIVING IN THE WILD

                  ***

   MERLE AND ROBIN,
      THOSE OF A GENUINE GENDER
WILL NATURALLY KNOW THAT
A BIRD IN THE HAND BELONGS IN THE BUSH
   THAT ALL FIGURES IN GOOD FEATHER
GAVE YOU
EXISTENCE AMONG FELLOW BEINGS
BAD THINGS WAX AND WAX AND RUN TO WASTE
   PLEASING WAS OUR PLANET UNPOLLUTED BY
THOSE UNABLE TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST
HOW TO SET BOUNDS TO SOARING BUSINESS
   LET TEN THOUSAND DIGITS
GIVE FIGURES IN GOOD FEATHER
A HAND
OR EXISTENCE AMONG FELLOW BEINGS

   ENTRANCED WITH THE WONDERS OF REALITY
      THE TELLURIANS OF THE LAND
TRY NOT TO LOSE THEIR EQUILIBRIUM
A BIRD IN THE HAND BELONGS IN THE BUSH
FINE FURS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS
   AND YET, THEY ARE PART OF NATURE,
THE AFFLUENT SQUEEZERS OF THE EARTH
DOES THIS EARTH BELONG TO ITS WASTER?

COULD THE GREENWOOD BUT WAIT IN YOU
BAD THINGS WAX AND WAX AND RUN TO WASTE
   NOW SUBJECT TO MAN'S EXCLUSIVE USE,
HOW LONG DELIVERED INTO ELECT HANDS

YOU ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER WITH
YOURSELVES TOO
      FOR NATURE'S SAKE,
   WITHOUT THE WAYS OF THE WASTREL ...

   IN A MIRE OF UNTOLD MATERIALISM
      WE
ARE INSPIRED BY LAURELS, MYRTLE AND IVY
   REJECTING THE THROWAWAY SOCIETY
   WE PLUCK A ROSE IN POETRY ONLY
FINE FURS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS
   ON THE SEWERED STREETS STRUT
THE GRASPING WHO CANNOT GIVE UP
ON ALL FOURS IS NO SHAME!

                  ***

THOSE OF LITTLE CULTURE
ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER WITH
THE DENIZENS OF THE DEEP
      FOR NATURE'S SAKE,
   WITH ALL THIS HUMAN RAPACITY

   THOSE OF LITTLE CULTURE
FEEL THE IMPORT OF THE FACT THAT
FINE FURS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS
HUNTING DOES DOES HARM TOO
   PLEASING WAS OUR PLANET UNPOLLUTED BY
THE HAPLESSLY OVERCIVILIZED
YOU WOULD LIKE TO TASTE OR TOUCH
BLACKBIRDS ON LESS LEAFY BOUGHS
      UNSTUDIED AND UNSULLIED,
   BARRING A DOMINION BENT ON SUBMISSION

   I AM REMINDED OF MY NATURAL RIGHTS
THE DENIZENS OF THE DEEP
ROVE NO WORLD IN SEARCH OF EVER MORE
   THAT A DETERMINED VEGETARIAN
GAVE THE RESIDENTS OF THIS ONE REALM
A BURGEONING LOVE FOR PLANTS
OR A FINGER OF THE EARTH

   NATURALLY, NOT SUPERNATURALLY,
      REDBREASTS OF EVER RARER RACES
ARE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO NOTICE THAT
NURTURE, TOO, NEEDS NATURE
   IN A MIRE OF UNTOLD MATERIALISM
      THE ANIMATE IN INANIMATE MILIEUS
SUFFER FROM THE ILLS OF POLLUTION
HUNTING DOES DOES HARM TOO
ONE SHARES THIS GLOBE WITH
THE TELLURIANS OF THE LAND
   RECOGNIZING THE RIGHTS OF NONPERSONS,
   BARRING A DOMINION BENT ON SUBMISSION

   LET TEN THOUSAND DIGITS
GIVE LOW-HANDED ANIMALS
A HAND
OR A WELLSPRING OF PURE WATER

   UNPOLLUTED BY SUPERNATURAL SOLUTIONS
   MEMBERS OF SELF-EXISTENT SPECIES
MUST PUT THEIR FINGER ON OVERPOPULATION
   AS VARIED AS SASSAFRAS LEAVES,
WHERE NO CHRISTMAS CRIES FOR TURKEYS
   AN UNFEATHERED BIPED
DOES, INSTINCTIVELY, UNDERSTAND THAT
A BIRD IN THE HAND BELONGS IN THE BUSH
IT RENTS IN TWAIN OUR SILENCE, OUR REST
-- REDUCED TO A RAMPIKE IN ITSELF
THE ENVIRONMENT IS A VICTIM OF ITS MAN!

THE LOW OF HERDS IS HEARD NO LONGER
   AT STAKE AS WELL IS THE FUTURE OF
THE MAKERS AND THE MADE OF THE MAN-GOD
WATCH PRIMATES WHO PRAY, PREY ON ME!

                  ***

   MERLE AND ROBIN,
   I AM REMINDED OF MY NATURAL RIGHTS
AN UNFEATHERED BIPED
NEED NOT LOOK DOWN ON AN ADOBE ABODE
THE HARBINGER OF A GLOBAL SUMMER
WOULD LIKE TO TASTE OR TOUCH US
      AVID FOR A SERENE SUMMER EVE,
   BARRING A DOMINION BENT ON SUBMISSION

   LET US GIVE THOSE OF A GENUINE GENDER
TRUE TRUST IN THE NATURE OF VALUE
OR A HELPING HAND

   ENTRANCED WITH THE WONDERS OF REALITY
   THEY WOULD RATHER DIE A CLEANER DEATH
BAD THINGS WAX AND WAX AND RUN TO WASTE
YOU CAN HEAR AND BEHOLD
THE HARBINGER OF A GLOBAL SUMMER
   AFTER NATURE?

   THAT ALL FIGURES IN GOOD FEATHER
GAVE THOSE LEADING AN INCREATE LIFE
A SONG OF THE MALE NIGHTINGALE
   UNAFFECTED BY FAITH IN DOMINION,
   A DETERMINED VEGETARIAN
IS REMINDED OF HER NATURAL RIGHTS
HE
SHOULD NOT SLAY THE LIVING IN THE WILD
   ENTRANCED WITH THE WONDERS OF REALITY
      THOSE OF A GENUINE GENDER
HAVE TO TAKE TO THEIR HEELS FOR TOXICS
FINE FURS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS
   THOSE WITH FINGERS AND TOES
DETERMINE THE WEAL OR WOE OF THE WORLD
THE ENVIRONMENT IS A VICTIM OF ITS MAN!

   IN THESE TWILIGHT YEARS OF NATURE
      BLACKBIRDS ON LESS LEAFY BOUGHS
SUFFER FROM THE ILLS OF POLLUTION
BAD THINGS WAX AND WAX AND RUN TO WASTE
A BIRD IN THE HAND BELONGS IN THE BUSH
   PLEASING WAS OUR PLANET UNPOLLUTED BY
HUMANKIND'S HIGH-HANDED POISON PUFFERS
ON ALL FOURS IS NO SHAME!

                  ***

THE HUMAN IN THE CITY
WALKS WELL-NIGH HAND IN HAND WITH
THE TELLURIANS OF THE LAND
      ATHIRST FOR CLEAN WATER,
   BARRING A DOMINION BENT ON SUBMISSION

   LET SOMEONE
GIVE THOSE WITH FINGERS AND TOES
A HAND WITH MYRIAD DIGITS
OR A FINGER OF THE EARTH

   PINING FOR RAIN, NOT ACID,
   THE DENIZENS OF THE DEEP
PRESERVE AN EVER-EVOLUTING REALITY
   WATCHING FIVE-FINGERS WITHERING AWAY,
   YOU WOULD RATHER DIE A CLEANER DEATH
THE LAST TRAIL MAY NOW HAVE BEEN BLAZED
HUNTING DOES DOES HARM TOO
   OF WHAT KIND IS THE COMPANY OF
THE CREATURES OF DESTRUCTION?
IT RENTS IN TWAIN OUR SILENCE, OUR REST
THE SMART THAT DO NOT SMOKE
SEE AND SMELL US
   VALUING THE BEAUTY OF VERNAL BLOOM,
      NO MORE MADNESS, HOWEVER CIVILIZED

THOSE OF LITTLE CULTURE
CAN HEAR AND BEHOLD
MEMBERS OF SELF-EXISTENT SPECIES
      AVID FOR A SERENE SUMMER EVE,
   MASTERING MAN'S LUST FOR THE MOST