Inspired by The Fifth World
Hear me
read
the poem as
an MP3 file.
Watch me
read
the poem as
a YouTube video.
Audio and Video Music: Copyright by Then came a long convalescence, which many did not survive. Copyright by Nicholas Gordon. Free for personal or non-commercial use. Subscribe to this site on Substack Subscribe to this site on YouTube
Elegy.
By Wayne Jones.
Music free to use
at YouTube.
Nicholas Gordon
Seas stayed put, animals and plants emerged furtively,
Humankind bowed its collective head and vowed its collective vow:
Never again.
Never again to isolate their hearts.
Never again to use other humans,
To use other animals,
To use plants,
To modify the Earth.
Never again to hunt or gather without gratitude,
To breathe without awe,
To live without sacrifice,
To love without humility.
Never again.