Nature’s Apathy
A deer was veering swerving cars,
until she was hit square on by ours.
Her death made it oh so clear
that we should not run from our fears.
Sad at the loss of my best friend.
Angry for his life’s early end;
I saw a roadkill squirrel’s form
showing me nature’s apathy toward gore.
The World cares not for my soul,
Nature offers us no special role,
but to live and die like all the rest
no greater than the smallest pest.
—Sabio Lantz, July 2015
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Prompt: CC, at D’Verse Poets, asks us to “Write a poem of 25 lines or less about how nature has healed, soothed, or inspired you.” Nature can sooth suffering by telling us we are not alone. She reminds us that we too are animals, treated no better and no worse.
Interesting. On a surface level it seems harsh a bit. That nature has no role but in reality you show it does because we are right there in the same cycle of living and dying. Which is part of nature and life. Maybe the problem is our separation from it.
I have deer that live in my back yard. The mom was hit by a car but lived. One eye hangs out of the socket drooping down its face. She is still the matriarch and keeps the rest in line. And she is not afraid to challenge either. She caught me on the porch watching them last night and stamped her hooves at me and huffed. Gathering the family but they know me well enough to go back to eating.
I have seen those animals being gored to death by passing cars ~ This is what happens when developments make inroads on habitat of creatures ~ Its either us or them, and the road kills brings out the beast in us ~
Nature is nature and we are all subject to birth and death. However, this poem does show what happens when humans upset the balance of natural cycles and habitats. Most def a warning to be more respectful of our home.
nice to sense the loss even when harm is involved
Loved your take on this prompt 🙂
I love the fact that you were able to turn the saccharine tables on us, & give us a solid raw peek at nature’s other side, the dark side; for it is difficult to watch orca slay seals, or lions bringing down calves, or coyotes killing poodles, or house cats eating the faces off their deceased owners while dogs lie beside them just grieving.
I agree with X…on the surface, this does initially seem a bit harsh. But, dig a little deeper and there is a consolation in it….knowing that we are not alone in our suffering, in that sense that Nature treats us all the same. And maybe even a call to responsibility….to greater commitment in how we treat other animals and care for Nature. Really interesting take on the prompt, Sabio. Thanks for linking up today 🙂
life is hard, let those of us who can embrace kindness.
you’ve nicely captured the great truth that birth and death are nature’s play…though we delight and suffer….
Oh so sad when deer get hit by cars. I like how this poem also brings in the death of your friend. It gives us lots to think about. It is cool you brought in the darker side of nature, which is as real as all the hearts and flowers.
I think you are right – we are but specks of dust in the grand scheme of things.
“… that we should not run from our fears …”
That is SO true! What a great message.