Tranquil meadows timbered hills,
Wildlife in abundance there.
Lonely bush paths, spirit thrills
Unspoiled beauty, not a care.
Thinking of this tranquil place
Make a pledge to settle there,
Force country laws to give them space
Clear the bushland leave it bare
Wildlife leave is mass despair,
Roads replace the paths they know
Know no longer welcome there,
Sewers replace river flow.
Concrete jungles, restless men
Yearn for bushland place to see
Wildlife roaming wild again
Better place for men to be.
Thinking of this tranquil place
Make a pledge to settle there,
Force country laws to give them space
Clear the bushland leave it bare
So, the cycle does repeat,
In our selfish quest we leave
Nature speeding in retreat
Future dwellers left to grieve.
“© Copyright Ian Grice,
ianscyberspace 2018 All rights reserved”
Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org
ianscyberspace 
It is so true what your poem is about and so sad. If it keeps up like it has been going the wildlife is not going to have any natural habitat left. Hugs
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I suppose we will lose some species all in the name of lifestyle development. It is sad,
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Yes, it is very sad.
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A well-written poem, but very sad, Ian…
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Thank you 🙂 The sad part is we all know what we are doing to destroy the environment our grandkids will have to survive in. But each of us is selfish enough to want to maintain our prosperity in a consumer manipulated society where we want more and more out of the earth. That selfishness contributes to slow destruction.
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Sad words capturing our dis-respect for the earth we ought to show more care for. So much to be learned from nature. Heartfelt words Ian. Hugs Xx
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Yes there is so much to ponder as we look back on our collective stewardship of this planet. So far we are getting a fail grade.
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When our family emigrated to this vast expanse of land, there were so many possibilities of retaining the unspoilt beauty surrounding our land. We even had an almond orchard and some grapevines…then progress..or should,I,say regress. The milkman didn’t call any,ore. The green grocer disappeared into his four,walls..and when Imreturn tomthat area from days gone by, I see high rise flats, steaming chimneys of,factOries,belching their smoke into the pristine sky..and I weep,for what was once there.
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Our population growth is out of control and I’m not sure how that can be dealt with. China tried to legislate a two child policy but somehow that didn’t work. India tried a “voluntary” sterilization program in the countless villages seeking to entice with a free radio which was greatly prized at the time. But populations in those two countries has surged as you know. So history tells us either nature will sort it out with disease or men will sort it out by mass slaughter in wars. Of course there is a better solution and that is the one we both believe in. Heaven, which has limitless space, no crime or selfishness and the utmost quality of life.
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Man’s greed has no limits – and if the people don’t make their voices heard, nature will continue to retreat.
I agree with Cindy – it is a sad but well written poem, Ian. Thank you for sharing.
Peace,
Eric
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I guess with increasing population people have the right to a place to live. The big problem is greed suggests we have a house with spacious grounds. That requires a city expand. I believe the Singapore model of high rises with ample parks should be the way to go here. Not only is it efficient in the delivery of services like water, power and sewerage but restricts expansion into farmlands which are the rightful possession of our descendants. Once enclosed in concrete the ability to produce crops on fertile land has gone for centuries.
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A sad poem about a common problem. Nicely done, Ian.
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When we settled in this area it was an unspoiled vast coastline tourists delighted to rest in for their holidays with wildlife sharing their joy. Then the populated areas to the far south teeming with people in Sydney and Melbourne up to two thousand kilometres away made it their place of retirement and I suppose we who were raised here did the same. Kangaroos and an assortment of wildlife thrived at our back fence. We watched as those grasslands and bushlands were replaced with roads and shopping malls to serve brand new suburbs. Tradesmen had flocked in to service all the retirement resorts and hotels followed. Now we host international events, suburbs expand and from my point of view the quality of life diminishes not to mention the expulsion of wildlife we used to enjoy. Now we have to go to the hinterland, or the Crocodile Hunter’s Australia Zoo fifteen kilometres away to see wildlife. Fortunately we have a series of lakes around us where an assortment of water birds thrive and parrots still grace our birdbaths.
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I’m sorry, Ian. Such a vast continent. It seems strange to hear of it shrinking. It’s sad to hear of the wildlife disappearing for the sake of progress.
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