ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Wearing My Green Cap Today


REQUIEM FOR A FORREST
As I walk through remnants where a forest used to be,
Sadness overwhelms me, for it’s pitiful to see.
Once the mighty Karri towered high towards the sun,
sadly few remain now – oh what damage we have done.

Rows of massive tree stumps look like tombstones of the dead,
Victims of a thoughtless age – I can but shake my head.
and I wonder now what madness, saw so few survive,
I can still recall a time, with most those trees alive.

Chop, Rip, slash and burn, it seems that we will never learn,
Moneygrubbers only care for dollars they will earn.
Chop it up, cut it down, cart it to some mill in town -
when your grandchildren grow up - there’ll be no trees around.

©T.E. Piggott

A big loss Terry, and you're not the first bush poet to mourn ecological wasteland. Look up Henry Lawson's The Stringy Bark Tree, and that was written about 1904.

Hi Neville,

I was driving through some Karri country Yesterday, they have saved a strip along the road verges (for the tourist) but walk in a short way and it's all been clear felled, there is some regrowth but it takes hundreds of years to become the giants they're replacing.

Thanks and cheers

Terry

There is something so majestic about nature in all its splendour, and something so shameful about our wanton destruction.

Well said, Terry

'I think that I shall never see.......'

Allan

That's sad Terry. The devastation is total isn't it? I've seen similar scenes myself - once when I was eleven and it left a lasting impression. Another property in this area was cleared very close to Christmas Day (so no one would have a chance to notice or object) and planted with grapevines. Grand, hundred year old gum trees flattened in a day.

Heather

Thanks Alan and Heather
In theory there is to be no more logging in old growth forest - IN THEORY.

The years of clear felling really devastated large areas of our wonderful southern forest.
And it's been a constant fight to save what's left of it.
I'm normally no great lover of the greenies, but take my hat of to them over their efforts to preserve at least some of our old growth forest.
Governments tell you it will grow back eventually - yes in about 300 years.

Cheers Terry

Very good and sad poem Terry. Been thinking a lot about this sort of thing myself lately, as it seems that indeed we never learn. I particularly like the line 'Rows of massive tree stumps look like tombstones of the dead' - that's exactly what it's like!

Toolangi Forest is taking a beating - the home of Leadbeaters Possum an endangered species and they have just about cleared the forest out with the Victorian Govt's approval. It is very sad - we will never see there like again in our lifetime. Your poem tells a sad and sorry tale Terry

Wise words Terry, after climbing that Gloucester tree at Pemberton a few years back, I can see exactly where you are coming from!
well done mate.

Ron

Thanks Catherine & Ron

Catherine I sense that as we grow older we appreciate these sort of things more than perhaps we once did, and perhaps subconsciously at least start to think about what we're leaving behind for future generations.

Ron driving through some Karri country the other day brought home memories of even in my own lifetime how much things have changed - and unfortunately not for the better either.

Cheers Terry