Poetry – A little bit of England – and what we have lost.

A little bit of England

 

Hidden away, to the side of the road,

By the side of the canal,

Next to the river,

There is a little area of swampy land, with ponds,

Trees, reeds and bushes.

Nobody wanted it.

It could not be farmed.

It could not be built on.

It was a tiny bit of England

Left untouched.

Home to frogs and toads, to fish, birds and voles.

Where butterflies and bees play,

Snakes slither and fish dart

As herons fish and ducks dabble.

It is a tiny haven,

A piece of England

Left intact from days gone by.

Once it was all like this

Now this smidgen has to do,

To provide us with a glimpse

Of what once was everywhere.

 

Opher – 23.4.2020

 

 

Somehow I believe we have got the balance wrong. We have become too numerous, too invasive. We have not managed to find the balance. We are destroying too much of the natural environment.

The world we live in is unnatural. Even the green fields are planted, sprayed and devoid of life. We have taken over every habitat. From the tops of the mountains to the shores of the seas we swarm in great numbers and destroy or disturb the natural ecosystem.

Once England was covered in forest. There were glades, heathland, moors, swamps, streams, ponds and rivers. It swarmed with life – everything from wolves and bears to frogs and newts. It was complex, vital and so alive.

We have tamed it – chopped down the forests and killed the beavers, wolves and bears. What we now have is the tiny rump of what used to be. If we are not careful that will be destroyed too. Nature will just be the crows, pigeons, seagulls and foxes, who are able to exploit the human environment.

To stumble across a tiny area of nature, a vestige of swamp and river, so full of creatures, was so wonderful. It reminded me of what the whole of Britain was once like ……… and what we have all lost.

The Amazon Trip – Sailing up the Amazon!

I was once again up at daybreak. I had my usual routine.

It is a murky day. Very misty – but a nice temperature. I Found some moths and had a cup of tea on deck. Liz slept – feeling groggy.

She was feeling a bit better when I went off to my writing group.

The day is still murky as we wend our way along the Amazon. This river is pretty big!! There is a lot of rainforest out there!

I just hope Jair Bolsanaro doesn’t have it all burnt down! It is far too precious!

The water is like liquid chocolate.

Hopefully Liz will be feeling better soon! We are heading for our last port of call in the Brazil. Another day ‘at river’ and we’ll be there!

Well, we are out of the Amazon now and into the Atlantic. The boat was no longer covered in interesting insects.

Tomorrow we hit Belem. Liz is still a bit poorly but on the road to recovery!

A Very English Springtime Walk – Photos

Come and take a walk with me! I’ll take you on my daily exercise walk.

I’ve got my camera with me to record the walk. I’m on the lookout for colour, shapes, weird things and nature.

My eye will take me to a variety of things. I’ll tell you why. I’ll tell you my thoughts.

It started in the front garden where Spring has set the plant aflame with flowers.

We had just reached the end of the road, by the church when I remembered I did not have my fitbit on. So I went back for it. Liz walked on. I said I’d catch her up. I never saw her again!!

But she would have got fed up with me stopping to take photos so it was probably for the best.

The church is on a flat topped mound. I reckon there used to be a stone circle there. The church was probably plonked on it.

The pub is unfortunately shut. We are social distancing.

There are lots of rainbows outside the school. The kids are telling us that this will soon be over and we will be alright!

The dandelions are loving it.

Rainbows in the windows.

And off down the back lane. Many of the trees are coming into bud. The new leaves create a beautiful green.

There are white drifts of May blossom.

I continued walking up the lane.

There were batches of daffodils and a hawk hung on the wind.

I was hurrying, trying to catch up with Liz. She walks too fast!

The track took us across fields towards the woods.

I just loved the shapes of the new buds.

Through the gates and into the woods.

Some of the kids had built a den (or was it a Gruffalo house?).

The birds were chirping but I couldn’t catch them. They were too quick.

I got the squirrel though.

I reached Driffield. Arriving at Riverhead – the start of the canal, lined with warehouses. The canal used to be a major thoroughfare for commerce.

Here’s the Bluebell Pub in Driffield. Bluebells are popular.

I started walking along the canal.

A couple of kids were fishing! One told me he’d caught two fish – 1 lb trout.

The first of the locks.

I love trees. They are still largely skeletal at the moment.

The path went alongside the canal.

I managed to get a few shots of the many birds.

That’s the oxbow of the river that runs alongside the canal! I liked the reeds.

The canals were choked up with waterweed. Great for wildlife! I could hear frogs croaking but could not find one.

Another bird!

The track took me past some lovely trees and down hedgerows.

It’s a bit like fairyland!

I arrived at the next lock with a fish farm to the side.

I was walking along a path sandwiched between the canal and the road.

I love the moss on the dead wood.

Across the fields is the church at Wansford.

At the lock in Wansford. I liked the reflections!

This is the old hollowed-out elm tree that our kids used to play in. I’m amazed it is still there.

I liked the patterns of the waterweed and reflections.

Crows nesting in the trees.

I loved the patterns of these waterweed and reflections in the sunlight.

At Wansford.

This is the old watermill.

More great waterweed. There are trout darting around here. Some are big!

There were flowers on the banks.

I was very taken with these. I think they are wild orchids.

I was now walking up the beck. It is quite fast flowing and the water looks crystal clear.

I really liked these buds – the colour and shape.

Skeletal trees, banks of May blossom, old tree-trunk festooned with ivy.

Beautiful patches of yellow celandine.

I really liked the patterns creating by the drilling of this field.

This old brickwork bridge was now crumbling and covered in ivy and creepers.

A couple of days ago there was no yellow. The flowers have opened.

Reed banks and ivy on trees.

In the distance I saw these birds on a telegraph line.

I was very impressed with their numbers. Were they waiting for the farmer to plant their seed?

There was something about this plantation with its floor of yellow celandine.

Snowdrifts of white May blossom.

Across the railway lines. Through the gate.

The banks, blackthorn and crystal-clear water running over the chalky stones.

Even the sheep are becoming punks and dying their hair.

Into mole city. I’ve never seen so many mole-hills. The whole field was full of them.

Celandine, sheep and moles.

More rainbows!

The mere and the church. Nearly back – knackered!

I hope you enjoyed your walk! I did.

Now for a nice cup of tea!!

Some Fantastic Environmental Artwork

As we walked through the fishing village of Camara de Lobos we came across a street that had this amazing artwork. They were made from cut up tin cans – mainly drinks cans. Amazing, skilful, different.

I loved them.

Here’s a few of the environmental ones!

Covid-19 – Time to have an international ban on wildlife farming!!

There is much evidence that the Covid-19 disease emanates from a ‘wet’ market in Wuhan China. Here they slaughter wild animals in the market. Blood is spread. Viruses in these animals transfer to humans.

We need a worldwide ban on wildlife farming and illegal wildlife imports!!

Anthropocene Apocalypse – The World population explosion – a terrifying prospect for all living creatures.

Anthropocene Apocalypse – The World population explosion – a terrifying prospect for all living creatures.

Anthropocene Apocalypse – World population explosion video – You Tube link.

Overpopulation

The effects of the population explosion are catastrophic for the wild-life on this planet. We are even affecting the climate.

The population is currently in excess of 7 Billion. It is due to double in fifty years. The impact of that is almost unimaginable. Life as we know it will be transformed. The wilderness will be devastated. Natural resources will be depleted. The climate will change forever.

We are sleepwalking towards our own extinction!

Check out the video. I find it terrifying!

Poetry – An Invisible Machine – A poem for Roy Harper and the planet!

Poetry – An Invisible Machine – A poem for Roy Harper and the planet!

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An Invisible Machine

I wrote this poem on the way back from a Roy Harper gig in Scotland. We discussed the environmental damage being wreaked upon the world by the selfish, greedy minority who control the capitalist machine that is destroying the planet.

Five billion people live in poverty and despair while a few hundred thousand squander everything in a senseless orgy of extravagance.

The forests, lakes and seas are being consumed. The chimps, elephants and rhinos machine-gunned.

I suggested Roy wrote an epic song on this subject. He told me that he was writing one about what goes on in people’s minds. That is where the madness is conceived!

As we are distracted with booze, sex and TV, religion, psuedodemocracy and talent shows, tribute bands, muzac  and nostalgia, fashion, glamour and celebrity, the real world is being ripped apart before our very eyes!!!

I refuse to be stupid!

An Invisible Machine

There is an invisible machine

Relentlessly churning around the world.

Into its maw goes forests, lakes

And whole oceans.

Out of its rear

It excretes plastic trinkets

And control.

Its gears drip with blood and sap.

Sitting astride this behemoth,

This slow-motion holocaust,

The gleeful sneering drivers spray champagne down upon us.

In its wake the controlled

Buy trinkets and are distracted

By the addictive effluent

As they desperately strive to climb on board.

Their dream

Is that they too might live to spray champagne.

When its job is done

And all the wonders have been transformed to junk

It will consume itself.

 

Opher 18.9.2016

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Opher-Goodwin/e/B00MSHUX6Y/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1474228354&sr=1-2-ent

Poetry – The Sun was Shining

The Sun was Shining

 

I woke up this morning.

The sun was shining.

It made the trees dance in their dappled green dresses.

A mellow breeze

Carried the scent of flowers

Across the unending forest.

I watched the birds

Flying between the branches,

Building nests and impressing each other with their song.

Beneath the canopy

Creatures nibbled

On the verdant undergrowth.

The whole of nature

Put on a show

Of interconnecting magic.

 

But, as the bulldozers started up

And the chainsaws began to scream

I realised it was merely a wishful dream.

 

Opher – 6.3.2020

Poetry – When life teemed – a poem of anguish

Poetry – When life teemed – a poem of anguish

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When life teemed

Long ago, when there was a fraction of our present numbers, man sailed the ocean in big wooden sailing boats. The world was infinite, the seas raged and there was danger everywhere. The brave men saw death at every corner.

When they spied land they replenished their stocks of fresh water and meat. For simplicity they raided the breeding grounds and took on board tons of carcasses. They captured the huge leatherback turtles and turned them upside down on deck so they had fresh meat, oblivious to the hot sun and suffering. They clubbed the baby seals and birds and left the colonies wrecked. For the supply was endless. It mattered little.

They used live animals as ballast in barrels because it was easier than collecting rocks or digging sand. The animals died in agony and rotted in the holds to be discarded into the sea when port was reached.

Life was cheap. People were heartless. The bounty was never-ending.

Except the planet is not infinite, the stocks are not endless and within a short while the teeming wildlife has been reduced to a fraction of what once was. There is probably less than 1% of what there was a hundred years ago. Billions have died.

This is the first verse of a longer poem I have written about this cruelty and mindlessness. We are busy sowing the seeds of our own demise.

 

When life teemed

 

Long timber frames and sail

Bravely crossing oceans

Into the throat of gale and swell

To bludgeon, slash and cruelly stash

The feather, claw and shell.

 

Opher 29.10.2016

Poetry – Mother Nature

Mother Nature

 

Pirouetting through the stars

Twirling and spinning

Through the sky.

Her dress of green,

Trailing over hills,

Through forests

And seas.

Her caress bringing creatures to life.

From ice to fire,

Her body is alive

With mystic energy

Stretching over aeons,

Inducing

Enticing,

Evolving

From simplicity to complexity,

From nothing to something.

She smiles upon the universe,

Unique and fantastical.

She cavorts through the ages

Breathing life into the very rock.

Her dreams

Fill the air,

The sea

And the land.

Her breath drives the wind.

Her tears fill rivers and oceans.

Her laughter brings forth laughter.

Her smile lights the sky.

Wounded by her own children

She continues to give

Without blame.

 

Opher 28.2.2020