‘City Green’ – a striking poem written by a HRA Member
Posted by Highfield Residents' Association on Nov 3, 2024 in News | 0 comments
City Green
Our city has long tamed the natural world
with roads and railways, houses, new estates.
We’ve squeezed in extra homes, chopped down more trees,
expanded both by planning and by accident.
Most times the cost exceeds our estimates.
But still the power of nature throbs around us.
We grant her gardens, roadside trees and parks
the Common stretches wide and almost free,
yet given some small gap in our development
and nature pushes through with energy.
What we call weeds explore the smallest crack
in tarmac or old mortar, sprout from walls;
neglected sites are colonised by brambles,
tangles of green or multi coloured flowers,
the sort we hoe if they invade our gardens.
Crows and magpies raid our litter bins,
and foxes too. Squirrels don’t observe
our boundaries and skip along our fences.
Though butterflies and bees may be declining
the rodent population flourishes.
Our cash-strapped Council struggles hard with plans
to make the city beautiful and clean;
meadow-grass in place of lawns around
the Civic Centre demonstrates their zeal
to welcome insects back, despite pollution.
We find ourselves unwillingly at odds
with so much life the great Creator planned.
He gave a garden to enjoy and cultivate
for food, supreme authority to rule;
must nature therefore suffer as we expand?
The problems far exceed our city, for the world
itself is threatened. Do what we can
only the Maker can restore his harmony.
Nature along with us is waiting for the day
when we serve God together, as He planned.
