POETRY

"SKATING ON THIN ICE"

EVERYONE’S TALKING OF BIODIVERSITY
ECOSYSTEMS IN JEOPARDY
WE’LL BE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY
THE TALK OF THE UNIVERSITIES
IS THAT ITS ALL GETTING WORSE YOU SEE
PLAIN FOR US ALL TO SEE
DEPLETED FISHERIES
WE’RE MISSING SO MANY TREES
MANKIND IS NOW ON HIS KNEES
PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE
DANGEROUSLY RISING SEAS
GLOBAL WARMING BY DEGREES
THE END OF SOCIETY
THERE’LL BE NO SUCH WORD AS
FREEZE
ANYMORE

EVERYONE’S SPEAKING OF CERTAIN DISASTER
THE CLIMATE IS WARMING NOW
FASTER AND FASTER
SO MUCH SPECULATION
AS TO WHAT WILL COME AFTER
THE ICE SHEETS HAVE MELTED
ENVIRONMENT HARSHER
WATCH IT GET NASTIER
WE’RE NOT GOING TO LAST FOR
ANOTHER DECADE TO PASS
AND OUR FEEBLE ATTEMPTS
TO EFFECT A REVERSE
IN THE CONTINUAL DECLINE
OF OUR WORLD
ARE ABSURD
MAN WILL HAVE TO EVOLVE
WINGS LIKE A BIRD
IN ORDER
TO REMAIN MASTER
OF HIS DESTINY

IT SEEMS THAT WE’RE ALL CLOAKED
IN UTTER FUTILITY
FAR TOO MUCH PRIDE
AND A LACK OF HUMILITY
THE HUMAN RACE IS
IN TERMS OF AGILITY
RAPIDLY APPROACHING
HOPELESS SENILITY
RACING TOWARDS
UNAVOIDABLE CALAMITY
WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE LOST
TO IMMORTAL INFAMY
OH FAR FAR TOO LATE HAVE WE
SEEN WITH SOME CLARITY
WHERE WE HAVE BEEN HEADING
SINCE WE LOST ALL OUR CHARITY
TO THE BEASTS AND THE BIRDS
THAT WOULD HAVE WALKED ALONGSIDE US
COLOURED US AND SHAPED US
WITH WONDERS OUTSIDE OF US
AND AS WE DESERTED THEM
AND SHOWED HOW POISONOUS
WE ARE
WE BOUND OURSELVES FOREVER
TO EARTH’S EPITAPH

Cally Hill, 2006

"They Aren't Always Nice To Animals You Know"

Is it right to help someone by hurting another?
Should you wallop your sister if it pleases your brother?
Should you steal a new baby away from its mother?
They aren't always nice to animals you know

Have you ever taken a trip to the zoo?
Did you see all the prisoners gaping back at you?
Did you ask of their crimes and say how do you do?
They aren't always nice to animals you know

Have you noticed how grown-ups are often quite foolish
And sometimes they turn out to be somewhat ghoulish
If you ask them about it they can be quite rudish
They aren't always nice to animals you know

Did your mum ever send you off down to the shops
To buy some baked beans and some frozen lamb chops
Did she tell you those lambs never got to grow up?
They aren't always nice to animals you know

Has your dad ever taken you out in a boat
And wished that the fishes would pop up and float
Did he lower his hook and stab one in the throat?
They aren't always nice to animals you know

Next time you see granny all dressed up in fur
Poke her or stroke her to see if she purrs
If not then you'll know that the coat isn't hers
They aren't always nice to animals you know

Did you ever wonder when you get ill
Just where the doctor gets all his pills
He buys them off people who torture and kill
They aren't always nice to animals you know

Did you ever see your bunny wash his hair with shampoo
Did he ask if it had been tested on you?
Did you say, "Don't be silly, you've four legs, I've two!"
They aren't always nice to animals you know

Have you ever wondered why your budgie has wings
It's nothing to do with the fact that he sings
It's because he was meant to soar high in the wind
They aren't always nice to animals you know

Did you think your egg soldiers came fresh from the farm
Where the hens strut outside amongst bright yellow corn
Think again of a factory and you'd be getting quite warm
They aren't always nice to animals you know

No they aren't always nice to animals you know
But take my advice and stand up and say "no"
Tell them that you'd never stoop so low
For you can be nice to animals you know

Cally Hill