Poetise the Planet

Hello Everyone


It is an interesting time in the world right now. Politicians are in disarray as to how we wish to leave the planet for future generations. Around the world we experience hope and disappointment with The Copenhagen Talks being one such example.



Yet there is a ground swell of ecology poetry that is having a huge impact on people’s thoughts and actions. Who else but poets can so eloquently put into words the love and beauty that so many of us feel for nature? Their observations of the world and their love of beauty make them highly qualified to lead a new revolution in sustainability.



The crisis that the planet faces now has given poets the opportunity to speak in a new voice. They can express our basic humanity, our connectedness, our need to conserve resources and our responsibility to cherish diversity.



Consider the following:

It is the opening question from Don McKay’s Strike/Slip

"Who are you?" and concluding,

"You are the momentary mind of rock"

McKay puts the temporary nature of humans on the planet into the wider geological perspective of the earth on which we tread. As these two lines hint, the poem discusses the erosion and self destructive behaviour on the planet. The poem then considers that this is slowly being replaced by a greater understanding of our connectedness to the sacred story of planet earth.

As humans we have developed an incredible ability to think and bring a level of consciousness to our actions and their impact on the planet. It is the elevation of these skills accompanied with ecological poetry which will determine our future.



So it might be appropriate that we visit part of the thought provoking poem Hieroglyphic Stairway by Drew Dillinger. Just suppose we could get the politicians and power brokers to consider its message too… just suppose ecological poets were as highly valued in our society as plastic surgeons, media magnates and TV stars.



it's 3:23 in the morning

and I'm awake

because my great great grandchildren

won't let me sleep

my great great grandchildren

ask me in dreams

what did you do while the planet was plundered?

what did you do when the earth was unraveling?



surely you did something

when the seasons started failing?



as the mammals, reptiles, birds were all dying?



did you fill the streets with protest

when democracy was stolen?



what did you do

once

you

knew?





The power and challenge with which this poem confronts the reader is only surpassed by that of hearing the poem read by Drew Dellinger himself. He describes himself as a spoken word poet and as a recent member of the audience when he visited Australia last year I can state that his own reading is even more challenging and beautiful.



A somewhat less confronting piece of poetry comes from Kathy Sherman:



Touch the earth with gentleness

Touch the earth with love

Touch her with a future

By the way you live today.



Drew Dellinger has a car sticker which he distributes at his workshops it says ‘Planetize the Movement’. Perhaps with the creativity and power that ecological poets present a new car sticker should be distributed ‘Poetise the Planet’!







Works Cited



Dellinger D 2007 love letter to the moon Poets for Global Justice Press



McKay D 2006 Strike/Slip McClelland & Stewart





DVD

Sherman K 2008 Touch the Earth with Gentleness New Zealand Sisters of Mercy