Friday, April 24, 2015

Endangered Ridley~

Dead Ridley Turtle: Looks as if Alive


Ah, silence too deep to unscroll
    On these polluted shores… 
Battling shadows, lights and noise
Wonder, how long can a small creature
hum and heave and gasp?
Or, fight to stay alive....
when the blood pulse a mating call!?
This is a pathetic death that manhood spills
The rule of Life speaks to me...
…. where there is Life, there is Death too!!
 Someone dies for someone to live. Ah!
Who will solve this Existential Paradox of Life?

I see the wreckage of the 'Olive Ridley turtle'
lying on the sand-muddied shore
at the edge of bay of bengal...
On this grave... the sun falls every morning
chunk by chunk,
              making the sea fly high and low... 
Foaming poison-
                                         the water rips and breaks in the dark...
The red wave of turtles 
        lumber out of the surf on these balmy nights,
         and enter the human domain
           looking for a spot to nest;
.....meaningless human disturbances 
sing the blues; disturb the mating mood
The speed of life stumbles
deep filth fills the body in itch....and slowly decay
This is the Industrial Age's gift to these mortals

Let's not waste time asking...
'Can’t these little turtles
Borrow a small passage from humans
To lay their eggs without human interference,
when we have the earth for both of us!'

I stifle a sob,
place my hand on the wet turtle...
Wheeze a while on the dry sand
Lament loudly: We know the earth's a woman
Let there be some charitable
disposition on the part of human beings.
I, as a mother know
 that to give life,
….is the gift of god. 
Let fortune drip 
                         before it leaves 
the human eye for good.

~~~

Researchers and environmentalists are worried about the mysteriously dwindling numbers of these turtle eggs.  Erosion may just be one part of the problem. A much larger issue haunts the Olive Ridleys, according to them is human interference. Trawlers and fishing boats are a threat for them, lights on shore confuse them, and they are routinely disoriented by human disturbances along the beach. 
Read here for more!

Written for Susan's Prompt : http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.in/2015/04/poets-united-midweek-motif-earth-day-or.html

27 comments:

  1. Positively breathtaking! I hope this poem circulates widely as it may do some good for the turtles or at least for the turtle advocates. I love it all intro to prayer but especially love this section recharacterizing elements that used to flow:
    "On this grave... the sun falls every morning
    chunk by chunk,
    making the sea fly high and low...
    Foaming poison-
    the water rips and breaks in the dark..."

    Gosh! Magnificently revealed as broken and deadly. Bravo!

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  2. Agreed with Susan, this is beautiful..! :D
    Loved these lines:

    Let's not waste time asking...
    'Can’t these little turtles
    Borrow a small passage from humans
    To lay their eggs without human interference,
    when we have the earth for both of us!'

    It would be so peaceful we everyone could co-exist in harmony :)
    xoxo

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  3. So heartening to know about their plight and it is the same with other species too.

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  4. So so sad for the poor turtles. Your poem is a wonder, Panchali and I feel privileged to read it. The creatures are having such a hard time surviving alongside us. I love the part of the poem where you are lamenting because as a mother you know giving life is a sacred gift. Bravo!

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  5. each stanza could stand alone as a poem... saw a nature show on these big guys... there are some preserves fighting, and winning, in breeding them

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  6. Human beings display Darwinian impulse in its worst possible form. Hence, peaceful co-existence is missing.

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  7. This poem really made me sad, Panchali. I really love sea turtles & hate to think how much man's thoughtlessness has harmed their habitats and made it difficult for them to live. This poem was written with sadness and compassion. You have written it from a very personal and heartfelt perspective. Poetry at its best.

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  8. Such a powerful poem that touched me deeply...if we could but learn to give and share this earth with all creatures....your ending was incredible...

    'Let fortune drip
    before it leaves
    the human eye for good.'

    Donna@LivingFromHappiness

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  9. The way we humans expand at the cow everything that lives is on of many atrocities... Sometimes out of pure neglect we cause the death of fellow earthlings...

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  10. This is a truly touching poem and I feel for the turtles. I felt the sob..

    I stifle a sob,
    place my hand on the wet turtle...
    Wheeze a while on the dry sand

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  11. it is so sad not to let animals live their lives. you describe it so well and with empathy.

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  12. humanity is horrible, that's the bottom line


    Things Could Be More Reliable

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  13. "making the sea fly high and low... / Foaming poison-"...this is our gift to Nature while She's nourishing and sustaining us...we've forgotten to live and let live...i wonder how long Nature will bear with us...sigh...a beautiful poem of awareness....

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  14. Lovely choice of telling subject matter here Panchali and Wow! Your last few lines -so moving... An inspiring read for me tonight... Thank you so much With Best Wishes Scott www.scotthastie.com

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  15. it breaks my heart to see animals die because of our greed... there should be space for all of us...most def.

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  16. There was a documentary showing that turtles cry. Disheartening, if only they can voice out their concers. Great piece of writing, hope everyone can be a responsible guardian of the environment

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  17. Awesome writing. A really poignant, moving piece.

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  18. This is both a moving and informative poem, Panchali. It is so sad to think that these turtles are dying and disappearing because of us.

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  19. Sadly this is happening all over the world as mans greed ignores the need for other creatures, our fellow travelers to exist. Mankind does not see the world as composite coexisting environment but only the money that can be made out of earths exploitation. Hurrah for shouting out this message.

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  20. No many seems too bothered to be thinking of conservation. Pollution affects mankind to a slow demise. Great lines Panchali!

    Hank

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  21. This is so sad. "Foaming poison" so powerful.

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  22. Panachali,

    Thank you for sharing this poem, with the messages revealed to those who were not aware of the plight of these lovely turtles. So many animals in this world, depending upon the power of osbservation and conservation, to maintain their existence...Humans have been thoughtless in so many cases..
    Eileen

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  23. We really do have the capacity to damage all the beautiful things in the world..thankfully some people still remind us of them though

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  24. Poor turtle...sad photo...great powerful poem and message for humanity.

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  25. So engrossed we are, rarely do we care about others plight. Such a powerful message, through a magnificient write. Awesomely crafted!

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