[Note: I despise politics, but these are critical, precarious times when one must get somewhat “political.” The current diabolical U.S. administration is endorsing coal and fossil fuels and is deregulating and dismantling environmental mandates/regulations, not to mention destroying democracy and free-voting. Each year there are fewer butterflies, fewer bees, fewer lightning bugs, fewer of myriad types of wildlife creatures… not to mention fewer healthy people.
The cover of a recent Sierra Club environmental magazine stated: “Vote like the Planet depends on it (because it does).”]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Clear-eyed lightning thundering into people
as a person whose booming tinkering
blew separative self-seekers into roaring trepidation
Powerful winds upsetting murky, muddy minds of seem
groundlessly thinking they were of clear, illuminated skies
but falsely emancipated in dead houses of opaque beliefs
Earth’s life creatures were dying, not from the tempest
but from the stale, stagnant home-dwellers indifferent,
enclosed abodes of security hiding from the perfume of life
The tumultuous clapping was earth desperately tenacious
among the sullied world of gadgets, plastic, and fossil fuels
(Their adherence to self-gratification… not worth the price)
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
The Earth will do very well without us – but not the reverse.
That should be enough to make people change their ways – but sadly it seems not.
Yes, you are very right, Scifi. I realized early on that people, for the most part, get the whole picture wrong; and when they get the whole picture wrong there is a lot of nasty chaos that ensues.
So true.
Right on point Tom! This was clearly evident when the pandemic lockdown first went into effect and there were before and after photos of the air that made the picture of the same place look as different as day and night. I think we all know what’s at stake here. We know what we must do, but we cannot afford to drag our feet, because we really don’t have much time. Some folks can think it’s a hoax, but they must be wandering around with “eyes wide shut.” The environment isn’t a political thing, it’s a human and planet survival call to action!
Such mindsets are the same as those who believe the pandemic is a hoax. SMH 😦 I don’t mean to get religious, but even the Bible says God created man to be the caretaker of all that He created on earth. We know what we have to do.
Yes, Kym, being a healthy part of the earth is our responsibility. But too many of us accept what corrupt, nefarious so-called news channels and wanna-be dictators throw at us. It’s mindless and of deep, heartless ignorance.
It’s easy to say, “I despise politics,” often as an excuse for not participating in our democracy. Our lack of participation is what has lead to the current crisis.
Yes. I’ve always voted. When i say “I despise politics,” i mean i despise the lies, the vast and unlimited corruption, and the propaganda aspects of it all.
Powerful words. We must always be on the look-out for measures taken by governments, organizations and think of cause and effect outcomes.
Yes. Most people were not educated to think and really look into things fully. They were miseducated to follow, to believe, to conform, to obey, and were programmed not to question too much. Period.
Well said Tom. (and I had to look closely for insect number two!)
Ah, yes, insect #2! My wife, Marla, said that she only can see one insect. I said, “Look closer.” Then she saw it! Of course, we all must look closely at the whole environmental situation; everything (living) is at stake!
Like you, I am not much for politics but there iit is – Vote as if the eEarth depends upon it – S/he does.
I’m sure that you realize, as i do, Sara, that the animals and plants will prevail no matter what we monkeys do. We can make things better and easier if we care enough… if enough of us care.
I can’t vote as I’m Canadian but I think you know my stand on the state of the administration. Our poor Earth suffers, from the hands of humans who have failed to appreciate the beauty and natural gifts we have, and sadly “have” is turning into the past tense. I strained my eyes Tom, but I cannot see a second insect. I hope you are going to help me out here … I see a very vibrant insect on white flowers and an appendage sticking up in the air – is that this insect waving an “arm” or is it devouring Insect #2 – do tell!
Canada is looking better and better to me these days. Even if tRump loses, i will never get over the fact that 40% of Americans were nefarious enough to stick with such an evil monster. Deplorable and sad!
On the cluster of flowers that the BIG INSECT is on, look at the bottom-most flower. Two flowers up from that (and a little to the right) is a diminutive insect. I was going to count that little antenna as a 3rd insect… but that was pushing it. It’s unfortunate that you can’t vote here. Those traitors to democracy who follow the Putin puppet are trying like hell to keep a lot of people from exercising their right to vote.
I went right to your actual site Tom, as opposed to Reader, and I saw it then. I should have viewed your site photo last night … I saw it right away. I did think that antennae was an insect, er lunch.
I do not have a current passport so I can’t go to Canada; besides the border is closed anyway. I was going to renew it this year, but I did not because of COVID-19. I have tried to keep a low profile and only go out when necessary as to interacting with people/germs. At the Park I’m masked up and don’t have any reason to touch anything or anybody while there. So I figured the passport application can wait. My green card is up for renewal in 2025 but I can apply six months before. Our post office stopped carrying passport application forms, so I will have to go somewhere else, or online – I will do it next year when things are normal again. I understand having a passport will make it easier to renew my green card. I let the passport lapse back in the 80s when I stopped traveling.
Best of luck with getting your green card! The U.S. needs nature-loving, kind people like you
We have kept to ourselves and have not been going out. I work in the garden a lot and am busy with all the aquariums and pets. I have 9 aquariums to clean today, for example.
I think that covid-19 will be a recurrent problem for quite some time.
If we don’t get out there to vote to change things I will be more than depressed.
Yes, Sherry, exactly. There sure is a lot at stake in this election… democracy itself for example.
We have and continue to foul our own nest so to speak, a shared nest too. Powerful poem Tom.
Yes, we monkeys have made a horrible mess of the planet. The scary thing is that a lot of people think that everything is just fine and rosy. They are so out of touch with nature that they are oblivious to what is really happening.
They can’t see it so it isn’t real. Can’t believe the number of people who believe the politicians.
Yes, Paul. For the rest of my life — however the upcoming U.S. election goes — i will never get over the fact that 40% of U.S. so-called citizens were crass enough and diabolical enough to stick with a heartless, evil sociopath. Sickeningly scary!
I had to look closer to find the second insect just as I had to read closer to interpret your poem. Where I live, wildfires are burning around me. However, in my yard we are seeing more wildlife this year. The world looks bleak , but there are oases out there.
I’m so glad that you are safe. We’ve been watching the fires on the news and it is very unfortunate (for people as well as for so many animals/plants). A healthier earth would bring healthier forests and woodlands.
I am with you Tom, i also dont like politics but at times we need to speak up…and i fear we are at a point where we have done so much damage to our environment..i fear too that we are in a point of no return in terms of our use of plastics.
Mich, we are at the point of no return with a lot of environmental things. Accurate clairvoyance runs in my family, and i knew as a kid that we humans would ruin the earth with pollution. That’s why i never wanted to have kids. But we must do what we can to keep the garden of life going without so much of our dirty footprints. Trumpians don’t believe in science. They believe a heartless sociopath who kisses the behind of fossil fuel billionaires.