Cry for the Rainforest

Struck by the destruction and devastation within the Amazon Rainforest, Piddles Gonzales picked up her pen.  She wrote the following poem with the hope of raising awareness about the state of our worlds rainforests and its indigenous peoples who are threatened every day by extractive industries.

Written By: Piddles Gonzales, with much appreciation for the encouragement given by P.G. Brown

Part I

(The rumbling of thunder)

Cry for the rainforest
as the green disappears,
and the rain on the ground
is a rain bound with tears.

Grieve for the children
Who played in the glade,
Entranced by the sun
as they danced in the shade.

Day by day, time goes by –
Mother Gaia’s children die.
There’s retribution in the air
For all God’s children everywhere.

Weep for the wildling
Once born to the land.
There isn’t a place
Where it’s safe now to stand
With poisonous sludge
Down on the ground
For miles, and miles
And miles around.

It’s war, and I ache
When trees are slain,
All for the sake
of Hamburger Plain.
Another dam?
Who’s to mind
With more than half
The village blind.

It’s the profit motive:
The Great Divide
That rules the world
Both far and wide.
And it’s a rain without pity
For the shamed and oppressed
In the heart of a city
That’s a slime-pit at best.

Part II

Cry! Cry!
Tears don’t lie,
Carbon City
Greets the eye.

One bird shrieked out
God’s name in vain:
“I’m all freaked-out
On acid rain.
The temp is rising –
No time to pray;
Death’s a stifling
Breath away!”

Shy! Shy!
Shy of the blue;
Never were dreams ever so few.

Why! Why!
Heave a –
Heave a –
Heave a si…

(Thundrous applause and cheering)

“It’s a sign of the times:
Now’s the Kingdom of Crawl”
Rasped Lord Sleazy of Grimes
From the Great Cockroach Hall.

Photo Credit: Danielle Lesser

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To help the indigenous peoples defend their human rights and lands, please visit www.rainforestfund.org/donate and consider making a contribution.                  100% OF YOUR DONATION GOES TO THE FIELD.

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Want to blog with us?  Contact Madeleine at rffund@rffny.org for more information!