Tag: wayne visser

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The Environmentalist

You call me an environmentalist
As if caring for the earth is some kind of cult
And concern for future generations
Is a subversive agenda to be treated with suspicion

Yet it is the earth that sustains us
And a future that we will occupy together
It is the place that all of us call home
And our children who will suffer or succeed

Being green does not make me a monster
Any more than being black or white would
In the end we all bleed the same colour
And when the earth is wounded, it bleeds too

You think I’m a fundamentalist
As if respect for nature is an ideology
And calling for limits to growth and consumption
Is propaganda with no basis in science

Yet it is nature that makes us who we are
And science that sets the conditions for life
It is a finite world that we all live in
And simple maths reveals the inconvenient truth

Being committed does not make me a fanatic
Any more than being a person of faith would
In the end we all believe in something good
And when we believe in nature, it gives back

You say I’m a conservationist
As if saving scarce resources is a bad thing
And giving space for all life to flourish
Is a zero-sum game where humans always lose

Yet it is resources that feed and clothe us
That fuel our homes and health and happiness
It is the web of life that supports us
And greater biodiversity means we thrive too

Being loving does not make me weak
Any more than being a parent or saint would
In the end we all long for compassion
And when we nurture all life, it takes care of us

You call me an environmentalist
I confess that I am, and so much more besides
So call me a humanist and a possible-ist too
For I believe that a better world is possible (do you?)

Wayne Visser © 2016

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Safe Place

Now you’re safe in your place and I’m safe in mine
No waves and no torrents, the weather’s just fine
The distance between us keeps still waters calm
Our harbour defences protect us from harm

But oh, how I long for the cool ocean spray
For the flap of the sails and the dolphins at play
And oh, how I yearn for the sway of the bed
For the rap of the riggings strung tight overhead

But I’m safe in my place and you’re safe in yours
Our anchors are dropped and we’re tied to the moors
No warnings of sea squalls, no fog horns or bells
No risk of us sinking, no dangerous spells

Yet oh, how I miss all the wide open space
The sun on our backs and the wind in our face
And oh, how I dream of the day we set sail
On our next great adventure, come hell or high gale

Wayne Visser © 2009

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Haiku 3

Twin swans, white as silk
Rise and fall with gentle swell
Curvatures in sync

Wayne Visser © 2009

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Haiku 2

Open petals glowing
With buzzing to and fro’ing
Sweet nectar’s flowing

Wayne Visser © 2009

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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The Harbour

Life’s a great adventure – that’s true:
You brave the storms of grey and blue
You sail across the seven seas
And chase the sunsets on the breeze

You shin the mast and touch the sky
You trim the sails and don’t ask why
But just beneath the thrill and mirth
You long to find a tranquil berth

Life’s a great adventure – such glee:
The ocean tells you that you’re free
The salty air, the surf and spray
Add spice to every night and day

You plot the course and chart the stars
You lift the anchor, break the bars
But even as you rig and roam
You search for signs to make it home

Life’s a great adventure – each day:
You’re blown and buoyed along the way
You weave a yarn and tell your tale
And make a wish as you set sail

The horizon stretches as before
But now you’ve come to know the shore
No longer are you harbourless
What can I say: it’s marvellous!

Wayne Visser © 2009

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Sliver of the Moon

Sliver of the moon
Gone too soon
Too soon gone
To the stars beyond

Wayne Visser © 2007

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Only Natural

Is it spoiling a rose
To breathe its sweet scent
And call its silk petals
Beautiful?

Is it blessing a tree
To stroke its rough skin
And call its bright garments
Wonderful?

Is it treating a hill
To walk its curved back
And call its wide vistas
Majestic?

Or is it we who are
Spoiled, blessed and treated
By noticing what is
Only natural?

Wayne Visser © 2007

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Season of Loving

The seasons turn –
Nature enacts her ritual of letting go
While weather-talk becomes apologetic
A procession of figures wrapped in themselves
Begin their descent into gloomy mind-tombs

And I prepare –
Bracing myself against the looming darkness
Stacking reserves of emotional firewood
Battening down the hatches ready to sit tight
Hoping that Christmas will bring more thaw than chill

But then you came –
A Spring flower budding in my Autumn field
A splash of colour bursting through my grey sky
A candle flame dancing across my cave wall
A campfire raging amidst my Winter world

Now I just smile –
Knowing that there’s no cold when the heart is warm
Trusting that there’s no darkness when hope shines through
Feeling that Autumn and Winter are passing
Sensing that New Year will fulfil its promise

Wayne Visser © 2006

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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I Wish I Was Lost

I wish I was lost on a beach of gold sand
Just mapless and hapless and wandering unplanned
With endless horizons of ocean and land
And two dreamy drifters alone hand in hand

I wish I was lost on a train to the sun
Just lazy and crazy and bursting with fun
With cliff-tops to climb and warnings to shun
And two rebel riders who’ve scarcely begun

I wish I was lost on a trail nowhere bound
Just blue skies and gull cries and shells on the ground
With wind songs and wave beats that echo around
And two lovers laughing in sync with the sound

Wayne Visser © 2006

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Changing Light

The crisp mauve light of morning
Of new beginnings and promises
Of kindled hope and faith
Of warm inspiration
Of sunrise

The bright white light of day-time
Of glad adventures and achievements
Of blazing love and life
Of hot dedication
Of noontide

The blood red light of evening
Of sad completion and letting go
Of parting words and ways
Of cool liberation
Of sunset

The pitch black light of night-time
Of calm reflecting and reviving
Of healing rest and care
Of cold germination
Of midnight

Wayne Visser © 2005

Book

Wishing Leaves: Favourite Nature Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together nature poems by Wayne Visser, celebrating the diversity, beauty and ever-changing moods of our planet. The anthology includes many old favourites like “I Think I Was a Tree Once” and “A Bug’s Life”, as well as brand new poems like “Monet’s Dream” and “The Environmentalist”. Then as we turned our faces to the moon / Our hands entwined, our hearts in sync, in tune / We felt the fingers of the silken breeze / And made our wishes on the falling leaves / A gust of wind set off a whispered sigh / Among the trees that leaned against the sky.  Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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