Category Archives: environment

July 16, 2021 · 2:12 pm

Chant For Life – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

At dVerse Bjorn has invited us to write a poem using chant.

dVerse Poets – Meet The Bar – Chant Poetry

Photo: One of the many Hakea variety, this one unfurling, Kings Park Botanical Gardens, Perth, W.A.

“There is a seamless web to life …. all Life is sacred.” Nat Hentoff

Chant For Life

For sister, brother tree,
we gathered agree,
so blessed are we,
ever so,
ever so.
For sister, brother fish,
we gathered agree,
so blessed are we,
ever so,
ever so,
For sister, brother grain,
we gathered agree,
so blessed are we,
ever so, 
ever so.
For sister, brother water,
we gathered agree,
so blessed are we,
ever so,
ever so.
For sister, brother cosmos,
we gathered agree,
so blessed are we,
ever so,
ever so.
As so you bless,
our gratitude flows,
may we in turn
be blessing to you,
ever so, ever more.


Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®

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July 13, 2021 · 2:15 pm

1.5 Degrees – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: Hardenbergia, as seen at Kings Park Botanical Gardens, Perth, W.A. in my view all life has intrinsic value.

Note: 1.5 degrees is the base objective for reducing global warming if we are to effect real change that protects small island nations, food and water and health. The 2 degrees allowed by the Paris Agreement is believed by some to be a dangerous game.

“Action relies on courage not hope.” Emily Atkin

1.5 Degrees

What lies before us is entirely possible if we decide to act,
not just to be sustainable but to turn the tide completely
with the courage of collective action without judgement,
for complete ecological restoration in our greenhouse.

Not to be just sustainable but to turn the tide completely,
to find the resolve to move from despair to engagement
for complete ecological restoration in our greenhouse,
steering away from denial manifesting as empty hope.

To find the resolve to move from despair to engagement,
leaping beyond the desire to wrap everything in a bow,
steering away from denial manifesting as empty hope,
and we might be surprised at how simple it was.

Leaping beyond the desire to wrap everything in a bow,
with the courage of collective action without judgement,
and we might be surprised at how simple it was,
what lies before us is entirely possible if we decide to act.


Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®


Note: I was listening to Richard Louv who was a keynote speaker at the recent 'Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference' who said (and quoting William McDonough) "What happens to a society that can no longer conjure up images of a beautiful future, not just a sustainable future, you know, William McDonough the designer likes to say, you really want a marriage that's sustainable, don't you want something better than that?"

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July 6, 2021 · 2:27 pm

We Hold Hope – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: St. Mark’s Park, Bunbury

“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” Victor Hugo

We Hold Hope

When will the struggle to transform the world be over?
Sometimes, in my darkest moments, i say it never will be,
that life is a series of regressions running in circles,
always looking but never finding any positive revolution.

Sometimes, in my darkest moments I say it never will be,
our lives are never free of the shackles of self-focus,
always looking but never finding any positive revolution,
indolent crowds constantly ignoring all that lives.

Our Lives are never free of the shackles of self-focus,
and yet there are glimmers of hope irrespective that
indolent crowds are constantly ignoring all that lives,
because we hold hope of a future we want to be in.

And yet there are glimmers of hope irrespective
that life is a series of regressions running in circles,
because we hold hope of a future we want to be in.
When will the struggle to transform thee world be over?


Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®

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July 5, 2021 · 1:02 pm

Here I Stand – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: a dead tree on the bank of the Lesmurdie Brook – still providing an anchor for soil and offering habitat.

“We depend on the forest, and the forest depends on us.” Nito Uvenibo (PNG)

Here I Stand

Once I was a forest,
I ventured here long ago
where I saw many scenes until the 
sudden impact of anthropocene and,
saddened, disillusioned with your
devalued schemes, I surrendered to
the tranche of your salt and cull,
wrapped in dollar bills and bricks,
where you promised the earth to all
but me, yet here I stand, holding the
ground, resisting the tide of your
desire to 
cut me, 
burn me, 
rip me, 
turn me, 
own me; 
in silence I point to life within me, 
even now the centipede, ant and 
moth reside, while the grains of time 
know me as a lodge at the edge of 
existence; here I am, alone, together, 
against your march on all life.


Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®

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July 3, 2021 · 2:41 pm

To Spite Ourselves – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: i.unu.edu

“We’re in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone is arguing over where they’re going to sit.” David Suzuki 

To Spite Ourselves

Not needing, buying all the clutter,
Himalayan yak butter and 
stressed Kenyan asparagus, 
with the perfume box set from 
London or LA, and an emu bone 
photo frame from authentic sources 
in a foreign land, or origami cranes 
folded by eccentric middle class cats, 
always making meaning from advertising,
and culture from dollar power that
enslaves millions as disposables in a 
well oiled war on life and love where
we slaughtered the dove and killed
our planet, just to spite ourselves.

Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®

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June 26, 2021 · 3:29 pm

Connection – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: Paperbarks (Melaleuca) River Walk, Blackwood River, Augusta.

“To halt the decline of an ecosystem, it is necessary to think like an ecosystem.” Douglas P. Wheeler

Connection

The eye at a distance sees little,
but to be curious, to come closer,
to unfold your tender skin is to smile
as I see the night ant hiding, to be 
surprised as the well disguised moth
seeks escape in a flutter and a
running spider hastens away, always
on the prowl, while nearby, a banksia 
bee hovers quietly, then carefully I 
fold you back and walk on, taking 
you with me, noticing the difference  
in my step, and the wonder that has
captured me.


Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®

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June 25, 2021 · 1:43 pm

Close By – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: Cape to Cape trail just south of Ellensbrook

“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary.” Rachel Carson

Close By

I saw you once,
in that far off place of my youth,
where I felt I knew you in my 
mother's shadow by the basilica,
but soon you faded like yellowing
wallpaper in a dark back room,
and then you were gone and I was
unanchored in the storms as I 
searched museums and breviaries,
only to find you close by, hidden
in dragonflies and thistles down
uneven tracks, alongside 
decomposing logs where
wattles breathe gladness.


Copyright 2021 © Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®

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June 14, 2021 · 2:25 pm

Shaped By The Sea – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: Segment of the dunes where Elllensbrook meets the Indian Ocean.

“Looking at beauty in the world, is the first step of purifying the mind.” Amit Ray

Shaped By The Sea

Naked you are upon this open shore,
exposed as honest cracks and crags,
a weary bulwark against the mighty sea,

∽ even so, what rugged beauty emanates ∼

from this garden shaped by the sea,
sparse and roughly tendered delight,
perfectly textured for all to see.


Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®

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May 30, 2021 · 2:39 pm

Did We Forget Ourselves Again? – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: Stylidium – Trigger Plant – at Beelu National Park.

“The first law of ecology is that everything is related to everything else.” Barry Commoner

Did We Forget Ourselves Again?

Did we forget ourselves for the umpteenth time today,
dislocating our circularity of existence in favour of a myth,
that we are refugees from our own interconnectivity,
an ignorance of our interdependence with all that breathes.

Dislocating our circularity of existence in favour of a myth,
the long held shadow of self-deception celebrating plenty,
an ignorance of our interdependence with all that breathes,
ironically diminishing the circle of life that sustains all things.

The long held shadow of self-deception celebrating plenty,
the smoke and mirror of self-congratulatory independence,
ironically diminishing the circle of life that sustains all things,
in favour of a fleeting feeling of euphoria vested in ego.

The smoke and mirror of self-congratulatory independence,
that we are refugees from our own interconnectivity,
in favour of a fleeting feeling of euphoria vested in ego,
did we forget ourselves for the umpteenth time today?

Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®

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April 19, 2021 · 1:49 pm

Will We? – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: thecourier.co.uk LONDON, DECEMBER 21: Environmental protesters of Extinction Rebellion group take part in a demonstration outside BBCs headquarters in London.

“The earth is not dying, it is being killed, and those who are killing it have names and addresses.” Utah Phillips

Will We?

Are we living in denial of our roots in the natural world,
what game of double dare are we playing so late,
willow risk taking a step to awakening and be unfurled?

Could we possibly make a stand above the divisions twirled,
and let go the ancient castes of expected eager fixation,
are we living in denial of our roots in the natural world?

How will we deal with all that heated invective hurled,
so shamefaced that we are easily silenced to inaction,
will we risk taking a step to awakening and be unfurled?

As we face the furnace of resistance in which we are knurled,
what chance that we will stand on the ramparts urgent,
are we living in denial of our roots in the natural world?

Will nature hear us shout justice and not just mutter purled,
surely we have nothing left to lose at this late hour,
will we risk taking a step to awakening and be unfurled?

Why are we so reluctant and seeking to be safe and curled,
times are desperate so what have we got to lose but gain,
are we living in denial of our roots in the natural world,
will we risk taking a step to awakening and be unfurled?

©Paul Vincent Cannon

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