I grew up alongside the Mawddach Estuary and its exceptional beauty and although I moved away for work, my family and I like to get back there whenever we can.
Environmental concerns have been growing in the general public since the 60’s and have always been pressing on my mind.
I wrote the poem below many, many years ago, and am deeply saddened that the environment is still deteriorating despite many people’s best endeavours.
Darkness welled o’er sea and land
While seabirds wailed prescient command,
Beyond soft silence gathered pace
As calm spread through this heav’nly place.
With stoic strength, majestic domes
Of agéd mountains, resting high,
Gave up their grandeur to the storm
As deeper sank the purpling sky.
With lightning flash, with thunder roll,
All quiet fled as Nature’s soul
With pent up passion held so long,
Her power released, poured forth her song.
In wave on wave, her thund’rous tears
Washed down the land, helped quell her fears
That able, blinkered, man should deign,
To change her form and cause such pain.
At length her hurt, assuaged away,
With passions spent, the darkened day
Did lose its hold and brightness crept
Across where sea and river met.
Warm sun rekindled life’s rich vein,
The mountains, cleansed, emerged again
And all of Nature’s forms ‘cept one
Affirmed her power, her dominion.
That one, called man, raised darkened brow
With challenge laid for when and how
To harness power, to meet his goal –
…..To break and conquer Nature’s soul!
————
Words: Dr Ian P Crofts
Photo: Mawddach Estuary © Copyright Rudi Winter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
