Look Closely

I do not consider myself a poet as such but I occasionally feel the need to throw a few words together when something is playing on my mind. As usual it will be over written but I offer no apologies - it is the way I am.

Look Closely

Look closely at the sunrise
Its light and warm embrace,
Uplifting and full of hope
as it grows a brighter face.

Look closely at the sky
Azure blue and covering all,
A deep and serene calm,
That holds the earth in its thrall.

Look closely at the land,
Fecund earth and flora abound,
From the gentle sway of the field
To the forest acres found

Look closely at the sea
With waves foaming at the shore
Of hidden depths, of teaming life
Of tides flowing evermore

Look closely at the beasts,
At fin, feather, fur and scale
On plains, in forests or in the sky
With beak, tooth, claw and tail

Look closely at the people
Of different race, colour or creed
All trying to live, thrive and survive
United by design but divided by need.

But softly, take a closer look.

Look closer at the sunrise,
Remorseless, relentless, pitiless and supreme
Heats the planet more than ever
Like an apocalyptic dream

Look closer at the sky
Scarred daily and without care
As planes and demonic factories
Spew poisons in the air.

Look closer at the land
See the cracked and tortured earth
See ever shrinking forests with
Scant hope of rebirth

Look closer at the sea
Choking, dying by our hand
Oceans of plastic, of rubbish, of debris
Neither prepared for, nor planned

Look closer at the beasts,
Harried, hunted and full of fear
Thoughtless exploitation diminishes
Their numbers year by year

Look closer at the people
The haves and the have nots
Of disunity, disharmony, disorder,
Of intrigue and petty plots

But what can we do?

However painful it may seem
Or unusual it may feel
We must join in common cause
With global issues we must deal

Our planet is big enough for all
But is crying in silent pain
For far too long too few
Have been the ones that gain

The Giant corporations
Ensure that ‘That is mine!’
Monopolise ‘Their’ given space
To soothe their bottom line

Production, prices, profits all up
With scant regard of the cost
To people and the planet exploited
Then on the scrapheap tossed

Governments use high words
To justify their aim,
Then cover truths with disinformation
Thus removing them from blame

The homeless person, the refugee,
The stateless and alone,
All are the same under the skin
As a ruler on a throne

We should relearn to care
And we should relearn to share
There is a world aplenty
All should enjoy whilst being fair

To Leaders in business
And in politics to
Words are no longer enough
Just go ahead and do

Set aside all petty squabbles
Think not of them and us
Forge a global collective spirit
Of humanity, simple, without fuss

Big things have small beginnings
A journey starts with a single step
If we each change just a little
Then progress we can accept

Think not of me and I
Instead look to us as one
Join together in common cause
To make sure that journey has begun

We are all in this together
From the humble to the high
We must look, listen and act
Before too late, time passes by

David Crook