Shades of Misanthropy March 17, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Life Balance, Mindfulness, Nature, Poetry.trackback
Perhaps my philosophy
Includes shades of misanthropy
A cynicism born of man’s endless fascination
With devastation and decimation
All in the name of progress
Each step forward erodes the foundation
Of natural creation
What is a cathedral or skyscraper, however high
Compared with a mountain peak ‘neath a clouded sky?
What is electric generation and digital manipulation
Compared with starlight, moonbeams, and fireflies?
In auditoriums, applause and accolades
Distributed to the chosen few
Like manna to man
Erode our view
Of what makes life worth living
Outside the skies ebb and flow
from night to day
While we remain asleep at the switch
Aah . . . that’s better!
Related Post: The People who Make A Difference (Good Time Stories) * Red Mountain (Janna T. Writes)
“The reason men are so anxious to see themselves, instead of being content to be themselves, is that they do not really believe in their own existence.” ~ Thomas Merton, A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk’s True Life
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Spirit Lights The Way 
The Earth will one day swallow up everything we’ve built. We happen to exist at a rather unique point in geological history, but in the ten-billion year lifecycle of our planet, “civilization” is but a few moments.
Yes! In the great ebb and flow, all fades away ~> “we” are consumed with our own importance and the desire to leave a legacy for posterity, but nothing lasts, so what’s the rush?
Breathe deep the gathering gloom
Watch lights fade from every room
~ Moody Blues
Ahh the Moody Blues! I am just enjoying these moments.
Happy Monday Nancy!
Top o’ the mornin’ to ye!
No matter how hard we try to “civilize the earth” by decimating it, “ashes to ashes and dust to dust” will prevail.
Yes. This poem was “inspired” by watching mountaintop removal to get at the coal beneath the crust. A sad state of affairs.
Very, very nice:)
Outside the skies ebb and flow
from night to day
While we remain asleep at the switch
Thanks for the wake up call:)
Some of us are waking up . . . but many still put profit above any other consideration.
“What good is a house if you haven’t got a decent planet to put it on?” ~ Thoreau
Nice quote:)
Thoreau had a way with words. 😀
I do love Thomas Merton, but is that right? Do we really not believe in our own existence? Hmm.
I think that there’s more than a nugget of truth in that quote ~ many people strive to achieve in order to prove, “I was here.”
I wrote an entire novel about this, Nancy, so you can imagine I’m very interested in the subject. Civilizations rise and fall but the planet will always survive and rebuild itself (even if it has to wipe us all out to do so) xxx
Often when people say they are “humbled” by a compliment, it’s clear that the opposite is happening ~ they internalize even the most insincere compliment in order to stroke the Ego and stoke its insatiable flames. And they bask in the warm glow.
But the glow doesn’t last. So they seek other compliments, accolades, awards and applause ~ they strive to achieve to prove they’re alive.
As you say, the planet will survive, thrive, and rebound. Even if none of us are here to see it.
I much prefer nature’s architecture over anything I’ve seen man build 🙂
I agree, Janna. Cities overwhelm me ~ too many people, buildings, cars, and choices. Give me a rock overlooking the ocean, or a country lane, or a rushing mountain stream any day.
Mother Earth doesn’t have a switch. She’s always awake. Boy, do we humans have a lot to learn…..
Yes! When we realize we have NOTHING to prove . . . maybe we can get on with IT.
So true…This one really makes me think:
“What is a cathedral or skyscraper, however high
Compared with a mountain peak ‘neath a clouded sky?”
Great post, as always. I’m sure Mother Earth will survive. Man? I’m not so sure. Time will tell, perhaps sooner than later.
Yes. The Earth is apt to survive, long after man’s shrugged off ~ it would be nice to strike a better balance for the time we’re here..
“What is electric generation and digital manipulation
Compared with starlight, moonbeams, and fireflies?”
You say it so well
Thanks, BB. We’ve been watching a fascinating series ~ “Aerial America” on the Smithsonian Channel. Each show flies over a state (like being in a hot air balloon) sharing its natural wonders and man’s attempts to tame the landscape.
In Kentucky ~ the beauty of the appalachian mountains has been marred by mountaintop removal . . . blowing the top off mountains to get at the coal. Disgusting practice.
In Utah ~ they showed 5 national parks in all their resplendent glory (Arches, Bryce, Zion, Painted Desert) and then shared shots of a uranium mine that sold millions of $’s of uranium to the US government for nuclear weapons in the 40’s. Now, we are cleaning up the contamination at the tune of billions of dollars . . . 35 train cars of waste removal a day x 5 days a week from now through 2025!