For the Corncrakes and Mankinds Sakes

The corncrake's once common, is now only in a few hinterlands, one of the main ones in the callowlands around Banagher in Offaly. This poem explores putting the same effort into saving our fellow man.

The corncrake has been saved more or less by efforts of the "Save the Corncrake" movement in Ireland, and the RSPB in the UK. The bird, its distinctive sound once common, is now only in a few hinterlands, one of the main ones in the callowlands around Banagher in County Offaly, and down into Lusmagh and also Meelick and Clonfert in neighbouring Galway, where the overflows of the River Shannon created the callowland so suitable to its habitiat. A series of initiatives, coupled with grants, caused changes to the way farmers done thier farming to take account fo the needs of the corncrake, and numbers are stabilising. The poem asks, if we made the same efforts to accommodate our fellow man as we do for a bird whose song is not nice, feathers are not useful, and cannot be eaten, would the world not be a better place? ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Poem ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Its song is not of an angels chorus Nor its feathers for placing on a hat Nor its flesh fit to be on a plate And yet, for all that The corncrakes call and its demise Has reached into our heart For maybe our loss of oneness with nature It has made us aware, or made a good start. And so today in open field Where they cut from the edge before They now cut from the centre out So the corncrake can once more Be heard, above the sounds of evening By all, for the coming years For it is through carelessness of man That nature disappears. Imagine: if we done for fellow man Who little for we might care And adapted the way we live our lives To give him a chance where He might prosper, yet we don't lose It would be a wondrous thing A lot less trouble would be in the world That would be a song to sing! Alas the humble cry of the corncrake Was not saved out of love: It took grants of free money To make man rise above His lust for gain: and so with man Unless God gives a financial grant To man to take care of his fellow man and adapt Prospects for peace are scant! More poems at www.writingsinrhyme.com More videos at www.youtube.com/tomasocarthaigh

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Reviews

[Kanattas Atir Enomo]

i like this. t's very nice. and yes, i do believe that this world would be a better place if we would be kinder to each other as we did with the Corncrakes. great flow, great rhythm, great job. ^_^

[Celtic Cat]

a delightful read and a great voice for all. Love your "public service" pieces, we need many reminders these days... so much to distract us. You are right... as per usual. ; )