Shallow Waters: a song for protecting the environment by Ta'Kaiya Blaney

Ta'Kaiya Blaney is a wonderful ten-year old singer of the Sliammon First Nations tribe who lives in Vancouver, Canada. She sang this song before the Gulf of Mexico spill to raise awareness about how we treat our oceans.

Shallow Waters 

Lyrics:

In shallow waters, I can't see 

Your clear waves lapping at my feet 

The lifeless ocean, black not blue 

I didn't help, but deep down I knew 

In shallow waters I used to see 

Dolphins playing in front of me 

Seaweed swaying, keeping time 

Tidal rhythms, laugh not cry 

Oh! Oh! ... Why do tears fall from the sky? 

Oh! Oh! ... Have we given up, please tell me why? 

Remember the salty ocean breeze? 

We used to build castles on the beach 

Splashin' around in the summer heat, 

But now it's just oil up to our knees 

Bring back the days we used to care 

When all of these troubles were not there 

A cry for help, this is my song 

If we do nothing, it will all be gone 

In shallow waters I can't see 

The wondrous life God created to be 

But tankers and pipelines keep comin' through 

I turned my head, and so did you 

Oh! Oh! ... Why do tears fall from the sky? 

Oh! Oh! ... Have we given up, please tell me why? 

Remember the salty ocean breeze? 

We used to build castles on the beach 

Splashin' around in the summer heat, 

But now it's just oil up to our knees 

Bring back the days we used to care 

When all of these troubles were not there 

A cry for help, this is my song 

If we do nothing, it will all be gone 

Come with me to the emerald sea 

Where black gold spills into my ocean dreams 

Nothing to be found, no life is around 

It's just the sound 

Of mourning in the air 

Silence everywhere 

Oh! Oh! ... Why do tears fall from the sky? 

Oh! Oh! ... Have we given up, please tell me why? 

Remember the salty ocean breeze? 

We used to build castles on the beach 

Splashin' around in the summer heat, 

But now it's just oil up to our knees 

Bring back the days we used to care 

When all of these troubles were not there 

A cry for help, this is my song 

If we do nothing, it will all be gone 

If we do nothing, it will all be gone 

In shallow waters, I can't see 

Your clear waves lapping at my feet...

Love, light and blessings that we learn from the indigenous wisdoms of the world, and to the youth of the world who show us the way!

This was shared originally on Buddhist Travellers in 2011.

UN Earth Summit (12 year old Severn Suzuki)

A video of the five-minute talk by 12-year old Severn Suzuki that put the adults to shame, from the UN Earth Summit 1992 in Rio de Janeiro.

Video Transcript

Hello, I’m Severn Suzuki speaking for E.C.O. – The Environmental Children’s Organisation.

We are a group of twelve and thirteen-year-olds from Canada trying to make a difference: Vanessa Suttie, Morgan Geisler, Michelle Quigg and me. We've raised all the money to come here ourselves, to come five thousand miles to tell you adults you must change your ways. Coming here today, I have no hidden agenda. I am fighting for my future.

Losing my future is not like losing an election or a few points on the stock market. I am here to speak for all generations to come.

I am here to speak on behalf of the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard.

I am here to speak for the countless animals dying across this planet because they have nowhere left to go.

I am afraid to go out in the sun now because of the holes in the ozone. I am afraid to breathe the air because I don’t know what chemicals are in it.

I used to go fishing in Vancouver, my home, with my dad, until just a few years ago, we found the fish full of cancers. And now we hear of animals and plants going extinct every day – vanishing forever.

In my life, I have dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles and rainforests full of birds and butterfilies, but now I wonder if they will even exist for my children to see.

Did you have to worry of things when you were my age?

All this is happening before our eyes and yet we act as if we have all the time we want and all the solutions. I’m only a child and I don’t have all the solutions, but I want you to realise, neither do you!

You don’t know how to fix the holes in our ozone layer.

You don’t know how to bring the salmon back up a dead stream.

You don’t know how to bring back an animal now extinct.

And you can’t bring back the forests that once grew where there is now a desert.

If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it!

Here, you may be delegates of your governments, business people, organisers, reporters or politicians – but really you are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles – and all of you are somebody’s child.

I’m only a child yet I know we are all part of a family, five billion strong, in fact, 30 million species strong – borders and governments will never change that.

I’m only a child yet I know we are all in this together and should act as one single world towards one single goal.

In my anger, I am not blind, and in my fear, I am not afraid of telling the world how I feel.

In my country, we make so much waste, we buy and throw away, buy and throw away, buy and throw away and yet northern countries will not share with the needy. Even when we have more than enough, we are afraid to share. We are afraid to let go of some of our wealth.

In Canada, we live the privileged life, with plenty of food, water and shelter – we have watches, bicycles, computers and television sets. The list could go on.

Two days ago here in Brazil, we were shocked when we spent some time with some children living on the streets. This is what one child told us: “I wish I was rich and if I were, I would give all the street children food, clothes, medicines, shelter and love and affection.”

If a child on the streets who has nothing, is willing to share, why are we who have everything still so greedy?

I can’t stop thinking that these are children my own age, that it makes a tremendous difference where you are born, that I could be one of those children living in the Favellas of Rio; I could be a child starving in Somalia; or a victim of war in the Middle East or a beggar in India.

I am only a child yet I know if all the money spent on war was spent on finding environmental answers, ending poverty, and finding treaties, what a wonderful place this earth would be!

At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us how to behave in the world. You teach us:
– not to fight with others,
– to work things out,
– to respect others,
– to clean up our mess,
– not to hurt other creatures,
– to share, not be greedy.

Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do?

Do not forget why you’re attending these conferences, who you’re doing this for – we are your own children. You are deciding what kind of world we are growing up in. Parents should be able to comfort their children by saying “everyting’s going to be alright” , “it’s not the end of the world” and “we’re doing the best we can”.

But I don’t think you can say that to us anymore. Are we even on your list of priorities? My father always says “You are what you do, not what you say.”

Well, what you do makes me cry at night. You grown-ups say you love us. But I challenge you, please, make your actions reflect your words. Thank you.

This was shared originally on Buddhist Travellers in 2010.

The Castle on the Hill

The Castle on the Hill 

Once there was water here


It ran down the valleys


As tall grasses and trees 


Lent over and drank deep.

Now there is no water,


But where a stream had run


A rocky path remains

A path I follow


To lead me home


Away from here

From this place of secret beauty,
Down from the castle that I climbed
Down from the sea and sky

Up and over these winding hills
Into the woods encircling them 
Out to the world that man has built 
And a place where I can drink.

…

Before I reach my destination,
Two girls on bicycles stop to read a map—
I ask, and they are kind to lend me
Two squirts from their drinking bottle,
Enough to save me on my way.

Photo: “Castel de Montgri” by —okei

Song of the Blue Plumbago Fairy

Song of the Blue Plumbago Fairy

I am the fairy fair

Of blue plumbago flowers

You cannot help but stare

At my star-speckled bowers.

Each petal blue as sky

Reminds of sun and sea.

Reflecting heaven high,

I bless eternally.

In time it's true I'll die,

All beauty here must fade.

Of this I know and sigh,

But love, for love I'm made.

So let me touch your hair

And dance with you a round

Without a fear or care,

We're heaven, heaven-bound.

—okei (14th May, 2013)

Image: Photo of Blue Plumbago Flowers & Netting (2011) merged with Vidan's 'Sultry Day' on lunapic.com.

Flower Fairies of Spring (Cicely Mary Barker)

Spring Magic

The World is very old;

But year by year

It groweth new again

When buds appear.

The world is very old,

And sometimes sad,

But when the daisies come

The world is glad

The world is very old;

But every Spring

It groweth young again;

And fairies sing.

—Cecily Mary Barker 

The Complete Book of Flower Fairies

Poetry & Artwork by Cicely Mary Barker

Video by silverbirch4444art

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MZVU5VbVM0

Poems compiled by Frederick Warne

http://lair2000.net/fairy_spring_poems/rain.html

THE SONG OF THE CROCUS FAIRIES Crocus of yellow, new and gay; Mauve and purple, in brave array; Crocus white Like a cup of light, — Hundreds of them are smiling up, Each with a flame in its shining cup, By the touch of the warm and welcome sun Opened suddenly. Spring's begun! Dance then, fairies, for joy, and sing The song of the coming again of Spring.

THE SONG OF THE COLT'S-FOOT FAIRY The winds of March are keen and cold; I fear them not, for I am bold. I wait not for my leaves to grow; They follow after: they are slow. My yellow blooms are brave and bright; I greet the Spring with all my might.

THE SONG OF THE DANDELION FAIRY Here's the Dandelion's rhyme: See my leaves with tooth-like edges; Blow my clocks to tell the time; See me flaunting by the hedges, In the meadow, in the lane, Gay and naughty in the garden; Pull me up – I grow again, Asking neither leave nor pardon. Sillies, what are you about With your spades and hoes of iron? You can never drive me out Me, the dauntless Dandelion!

THE SONG OF THE WILLOW-CATKIN FAIRY The people call me Palm, they do; They call me Pussy-willow too. And when I'm full in bloom, the bees Come humming round my yellow trees. The people trample round about And spoil the little trees, and shout; My shiny twigs are thin and brown: The people pull and break them down. To keep a Holy Feast, they say, They take my pretty boughs away. I should be glad – I should not mind If only people weren't unkind. Oh, you may pick a piece, you may (So dear and silky, soft and grey); But if you're rough and greedy, why You'll make the little fairies cry.

THE SONG OF THE WINDFLOWER FAIRY While human-folk slumber, The fairies espy Stars without number Sprinkling the sky. The Winter's long sleeping, Like night-time, is done; But day-stars are leaping To welcome the sun. Star-like they sprinkle The wildwood with light; Countless they twinkle The Windflowers white! ("Windflower" is another name for Wood Anemone.)

THE SONG OF THE LARCH FAIRY Sing a song of Larch trees Loved by fairy-folk; Dark stands the pinewood, Bare stands the oak, But the Larch is dressed and trimmed Fit for fairy-folk! Sing a song of Larch trees, Sprays that swing aloft, Pink tufts, and tassels Grass-green and soft: All to please the little elves Singing songs aloft!

THE SONG OF THE BLUEBELL FAIRY My hundred thousand bells of blue, The splendour of the Spring, They carpet all the woods anew With royalty of sapphire hue; The Primrose is the Queen, 'tis true. But surely I am King! Ah yes, The peerless Woodland King! Loud, loud the thrushes sing their song; The bluebell woods are wide; My stems are tall and straight and strong; From ugly streets the children throng, They gather armfuls, great and long, Then home they troop in pride Ah yes, With laughter and with pride! (This is the Wild Hyacinth. The Bluebell of Scotland is the Harebell.)

THE SONG OF THE DAFFODIL FAIRY I'm everyone's darling: the blackbird and starling Are shouting about me from blossoming boughs; For I, the Lent Lily, the Daffy-down-dilly, Have heard through the country the call to arouse. The orchards are ringing with voices a-singing The praise of my petticoat, praise of my gown; The children are playing, and hark! they are saying That Daffy-down-dilly is come up to town!

THE SONG OF THE STITCHWORT FAIRY I am brittle-stemmed and slender, But the grass is my defender. On the banks where grass is long, I can stand erect and strong. All my mass of starry faces Looking up from wayside places, From the thick and tangled grass, Gives you greeting as you pass. (A prettier name for Stitchwort is Starwort, though rarely used.)

THE SONG OF THE MAY FAIRY My buds, they cluster small and green; The sunshine gaineth heat: Soon shall the hawthorn tree be clothed As with a snowy sheet. O magic sight, the hedge is white, My scent is very sweet; And lo, where I am come indeed, The Spring and Summer meet.

Touching Mother Earth (Thich Nhat Hanh)

You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. Fear, separation, hate and anger come from the wrong view that you and the Earth are two separate entities. That is a dualistic way of thinking. So to breathe in and be aware of your body and look deeply into it and realize you are the Earth and your consciousness is also the consciousness of the Earth. Not to cut the trees, not to pollute the water — that is not enough.

When we recognize the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection, love is born. We want to be connected. That is the meaning of love, to be at one. When you love someone, you want to say, "I need you. I take refuge in you." You do anything for the benefit of the Earth, and the Earth will do anything for your well-being.

Many people get sick today because they get alienated from Mother Earth. The practice of mindfulness helps us to touch Mother Earth inside of this body and this practice can help heal people. So the healing of the people should go together with the healing of the Earth. This kind of enlightenment is very crucial to a collective awakening.

Touching the ultimate dimension, we feel happy and comfortable like the birds enjoying the blue sky or the deer enjoying the green fields. We know that we do not have to look for the ultimate outside of ourselves — it is available within us, in this very moment.

— Thich Nhat Hanh 

(excerpts from an interview, book forthcoming)

Photos: Spanish Pine Forests & Mediterranean Bay —okei

A Hundred Vistas to Self-Fulfilment

Like a tree whose falling leaves

Cultivate new birth,

Misty clouds soon clear,

Opening a hundred vistas

To self-fulfilment.

—okei, Tamara & Basho

*improved double-haiku-version*

 (10/10/2012)

Like a maple's leaves
That fall in festive hue and
Cultivate new birth

Misty clouds soon clear
Opening a hundred vistas
To self-fulfilment.

—okei 

Children & Nature Haikus

I have seen a bird
Fly halfway across the world,
Then vanish in mist.

With eyes of a child,
“That tree,” she says, “is even
Taller than the hill.”

“It had a headstart,”
I thought, “because its roots grew
High as well as deep.”

Two children jump
Over a puddle.
Then one exclaims,
“The rain has stopped!”

--okei

Cat Stevens - Morning has Broken (Eleanor Farjeon)

Morning has broken, like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day.