The beginning of the story
Some time ago
when all creatures wandered free
when trees grew lush thickets
when streams bubbled with laughter
roamed tiger-sized lions
roamed dragonlike lizards
roamed giant kangaroos.
Into the forest stepped a tribe
of small, powerful apes
who drove these creatures to extinction
to claim the forest for themselves
who burned down the trees with fatal fires
with thoughtless abuse of their power
who turned the streams to dirty wastewater
their laziness trumping their virtue.
They dominated the forest
and took what they wanted.
But the forest, unlike them,
kept giving and giving
ceaselessly, selflessly
to the tribe who refused to give back.
As the tribe grew in size
and continued to take
the fortunes clouded the eyes
of the leaders, moneymakers,
blind, as they were,
the tribe plunged on in their journey.
For all they saw
was the green of the cash
not green of the trees,
not of tender spring buds.
For all they cared
it was all-you-can-take
and they took all they could,
they conquered it all.
The tribe’s citizens could see a little more
watching the destruction
worsen each day
but as fingers touched more riches,
as ears heard hollow promises,
they turned their backs to the calls of nature
denying the truth
they claimed it was just
a part of development
a fixable issue
and a sign of Man’s growth.
But the eyes of their children
were clear like full moons
as more were born into
watching forest life weaken
by the day
so their eyes only widened
at the horrors around them.
Their hope started waning
it seemed too big to address.
How? they wondered,
we don’t have the power…
