I’ve watched the Northern Lights ignite the turbid arctic sky,

a curtain call as seasons slowly pass,

I’ve seen the instant white moths hatched and spread their wings to fly,

a billion of them rising from the grass.

A whale has crooned its song to me then leapt into the air,

to drop into the ocean and explode,

I’ve seen a salmon struggle in the clutches of a bear,

a victim of its deadly spawning road.

The Serengeti plains have stretched away for ever more,

I’ve sat beside impala as they feed,

my skin has crawled as King of Beasts evoked his mighty roar,

I’ve breathed the dust arising from stampede.

I’ve looked down on the mushroom clouds from forty thousand feet,

and tasted honey straight from wild bees,

I’ve seen an Indonesian peak breathe smoke from lava’s heat,

while sailing through its incandescent seas.

I’ve dived on coral no one else has ever seen before,

while sea snakes swam around me in a dance,

I’ve aided baby turtles in their race across the shore,

to give the tiny creatures half a chance.

I’ve ridden shotgun over lambs and smiled to hear them bleat,

while foxes watched and storm crashed overhead,

I’ve seen a Chimbu tribal fight and heard their war drums beat,

as sunset painted jungle treetops red.

I’ve seen so many miracles, but still I have an itch,

there’s such a lot of world out there to see,

the wonders of the Earth cannot be purchased by the rich,

they’re owned by Mother Nature – and they’re free.

more of my NATURE POEMS here