A Writers’ Retreat:

A Bovine Quest (with Climerick to finish).

 

We are on an island writing retreat.(Iona)

 

‘Go. Listen to a sound of the island – and reflect it in a written format of your choice’, we are bid.

 

I decide I will go and listen to the sound of cows chewing cud.

 

I walk to the gate that leads to the hill – no sign of any cows.

 

I walk on round two further bends -  not a cow to be seen anywhere.

 

I see a woman feeding sheep. As she turns her car to leave, I knock on the window: it is reluctantly rolled down.

 

'Are there any cows around, or are they all being overwintered?' I ask, with scant idea of whether that is a sensible question in the second half of March.

 

'There’s cows up there', she says, jerking her thumb towards the north, ‘But none down there’. The thumb is jerked in the opposite direction and, feeling my visitor-ness, I set off, at least knowing I am not travelling in vain.

 

I walk to the gate to the North End; no sign of any cows.

 

I ask a young woman ‘Any cows up there?’

 

She looks at me and my walking stick slightly strangely, and says she has seen two or three.

 

I know I am not travelling in vain.

 

I ascend towards the top of the elevation: not a cow to be seen anywhere.

 

Aha! I think. If I climb as high as I can, I will surely see any cows there might be, wherever they may be lurking.

 

And sure enough - there are cows some 100 feet below and they are troughing it. 

 

 

Gone is my notion of putting my voice recorder as close as I dare, to a constantly chewing soft mouth and retreating to transform  the sound into writing.

 

Instead, there is the violent chomping of a bovine tea party, but joyful, I feel a CLIMERICK come upon me.

 

And so it did come to pass, 

that I listened to cows chomping grass. 

Then horror! They’re belching: 

it’s clear they are belting

out methane, a vile greenhouse gas.

 

  

TODAY’S CLIMERICK: RACHEL REEVES, LISTEN - GROWTH IS FOR FOOLS

Edited Pixabay Image

What folly! -More Runways to kill the planet

Rachel Reeves, listen! Growth is for fools,

if it leads to the planet’s downfall.

The Earth’s urgent need

is to swiftly impede

power-making, with foul dirty fuels

Find more about the thinking behind the growing collection of CLIMERICKS HERE  

TODAY’S CLIMERICK - with HOPE: Materials Science is where

 

Materials Science Is Where

You will find a great body of care

For sustainability

At scale capability

Young people, take hope; don’t despair.

 

On the Eco-verses site, we are always on the lookout for reports of activities that can bring some hope into a fraught futurism. In the September 2024 issue of Materials World are articles on bringing colour to solar panels making them more attractive to architects; recycling of critical metals from spent alkaline batteries, improved recycling of solid state lithium batteries; The next generation of smart offshore windfarms; how precise measurement is vital in the race to net zero and 3D printing of natural material flooring panel (to replace steel) and more. This Climerick is a repetition of one posted on 1.10.2024 except for the last line. The earlier version appealed specifically to investors to support as many Eco-businesses as they possibly can. 

TODAY’s SLIMERICK:THANK GOD FOR VERY BRAVE WOMEN

And I do mean THANK GOD...

Thank God for very brave women

Bishops who won’t just, ‘AMEN’;

but speak truth to power

and simply won’t cower

to blust’rers and cowardly men.

For  Bishop Mariann Budde in the US - YAY!

and for

Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley in the UK - YAY!

TODAY’s CLIMERICK: STORM EOWYN BRINGS HAVOC AND FEAR

Cyprus Avenue, Belfast 

in  the wake of Storm Eowyn 

(Guardian Picture)

With so much violence in weather systems worldwide, and so much turbulence in politics, including the disgraceful stopping of the Climate and Nature Bill in the UK parliament today. I will try to bring both a CLIMERICK and a SLIMERICK every day (other than Sundays). Won’t make that aim all the time - but I’ll try, and hope others will take up similar writing. So here’s today’s CLIMERICK, coupled with today’s SLIMERICK ...

STORM EOWYN BRINGS HAVOC AND FEAR,

WITH A STING JET - A RARITY HERE;

IT BROUGHT RECORD GALES,

AND DESTRUCTION AT SCALE.

IT’S CLIMATE CHANGE, BOTH LOUD AND CLEAR.

See today’s BBC Northern Ireland weather news at Northern Ireland | Latest News & Updates | BBC News

Find more about the thinking behind the growing collection of CLIMERICKS HERE   

TODAY’S SLIMERICK (Day 3 AI - After Inauguration)

As each day unfolds, it seems there will be new ideas for a SLIMERICK-A-DAY!

I’ll try! And here’s todays

SLIMERICKS ICON (Modified Pixabay Image)

LIAR TRUMP, YOU’VE BEEN GRACELESS I HEAR,

TO A BISHOP, WHO, SHOWING NO FEAR,

ASKED YOU TO BE KIND

TO ALL HUMANKIND,

NOT JUST TO YOUR WHITE THUGGISH PEERS.

TODAY’s SLIMERICK (Day 2 AI - After Inauguration)

 

SLIMERICKS ICON (Modified Pixabay Image)

Liar Trump, Your Paris attack

is not clever, for by rowing back,

you’ll heighten wildfire

and hurricanes dire.

Yes! Your land will be blighted, that’s fact.

We will attempt to post a SLIMERICK daily to note the damage being inflicted by Liar Trump, not only on America but on the whole world

SLIMERICKS JOIN CLIMERICKS: TODAY’S SLIMERICK (Day 1 AI - After Inauguration)

SLIMERICKS ICON (Modified Pixabay image)

As from today, every SLIMERICK is a CLIMERICK and therefore an ECO-VERSE, as good sense is overwhelmed by the most dangerous administration the world has ever seen, masquerading as democracy.

Why SLIMERICK - SLIME RICK!

and here, the first SLIMERICK, a modified earlier CLIMERICK

LIAR TRUMP, you are headed to be

THE GREAT FOOL OF WORLD HISTORY.

As you boost coal and oil,

the planet will boil;

then it’s doomsday for Earth, YOU and me.

 

STARMER - WHAT ARE YOU ON?

SORRY TO THOSE WHO COME HERE TO FIND ENCOURAGEMENT TO HELP FIGHT THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE - BUT THE POLITICAL WORLD IS SUCH A MESS - THAT I’M STAYING WITH PLIMERICKS JUST NOW

So yesterday The Sun (pause to rinse mouth out) reported Starmer as saying ‘I’ve got the Balls to take the axe to the Benefits system.' My response

O STARMER, YOU CLAIM TO BE BRAVE,

AT MAKING A BENEFITS SHAVE.

A TRULY BRAVE GUY,

WOULD SMASH WEALTH THAT’S SO HIGH,

IT IS DIGGING DEMOCRACY’S GRAVE

Let’s hope lots of voters will see this and register their disgust with their MPs 

MEET PLIMERICKS ALONGSIDE CLIMERICKS: Message for ZUCKERBERG

AI generated Pixabay image

I really can’t help it! When I started writing CLIMERICKS, I thought that would be enough, but we are seeing such malign things happening in the corporate and political worlds, I just cannot but try to express my indignation and often outright anger at daily news. Yesterday’s news provoked this …

The first PLIMERICK, that is a Limerick with a decidedly people-focused slant.

ZUCKERBERG, how do you dare,

Reduce your duty of care

To those who don’t doubt,

Harmful trash YOU put out?

The toll of their DEATHS - YOU MUST BEAR?

It is surely obscene that such a massively profitable outfit so demonstrably puts profits before people. IT IS SHAMEFUL! Could it be that this withdrawal of due diligence is about cosying up to someone more powerful? Each of us will have our opinion.

And, perhaps people,who still have decency as a watchword, will gather round this and send a powerful message to a guy who has simply far too much wealth for his own good and thinks he can ride roughshod over vulnerable subscribers to his platform.

CLIMERICK: If You’re Now Returning Some Clothes, A verse to prompt you to think, as you return unwanted garments

 

If you’re now returning some clothes,

A I can quickly disclose,

if the path of return,

 will be just slash and burn

or perhaps NOT increase the earth's woes.

So we find ourselves in the ‘Season of the Returns’, when disliked, wrong sized, plainly unlike the description, clothes get walked to the Post Office or mailing boxes to land back on the vendor’s doorstep. This is a 'planet aware’ moment. 

Do you have any idea what the policy of that seller is to the possible van-loads of returns that arrive unbidden throughout this Season of the Returns.

Do YOU care? I hope you do, because you can do an Earth- friendly/ unfriendly check before you send a garment back.

One way (as suggested on 16th December on this site, would be to ask the sellers for a copy of their ESG (Environmental, Sustainability and Governance) report and see a) if it exists at all and if it does ask for a copy from their Customer Relations Department. Make your action dependent on what the report says. So, if that should reveal (Unlikely) that they simply trash all returns - and some undoubtedly do, there really isn’t an Eco-wise reason to send the garment back. Take the refund, take the garment to the nearest thrift or charity shop and bask in the knowledge that you have saved that garment poisoning the earth with many thousands of others.

However, all that takes effort. Though by taking that course, you will bring pressure on some of the more unscrupulous traders and earth needs to know some of you will (Bravo! Bravo)

So, yesterday, I tried a much simpler route. I am signed up to an AI suite and asked it ‘What will #GooseandGander do with a garment I return? It’s an ideal target for aa AI request, very specifically targeted, so the Algorithms will get straight to the heart of the query. It might take you quite a long time hunting round the G&G website, for example.

The answer came back in less than 5 seconds.

If you return a garment to Goose & Gander, they will typically inspect it to ensure it meets their return policy criteria (e.g., unworn, unwashed, and in its original condition). After that, they might:

1. Restock It: If the item is in excellent condition, they could add it back to their inventory for resale.

2. Sell as Seconds: If the item has minor flaws, they might sell it at a discount as a “seconds” item.

3. Recycle or Donate: For items that can’t be resold, they might recycle the materials or donate the garment to charity.

Policies can vary, so it’s best to confirm with Goose & Gander directly if you’re curious about their specific process.

Now, I realise the answer said ’they will typically...’ and not simply ’they will’. I’ll be following up and asking other retailers questions with the help of AI.

And at the end of it all, I feel as if I have struck a tiny, but significant seam of customer awareness.

Do think about it. I will be back with another thought- provoking idea in a few days.

IN THE MEANTIME, MANY HAPPY RETURNS.

 

.

CLIMERICKS & NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

AI generated image from Pixabay

Here, once again, on the threshold of the New Year, we will, maybe struggle to decide how to repeat resolutions that didn’t survive the whole of a previous year. Here’s a different approach. New Climericks will be posted at least twice a week and will keep you focused on the need to care for the planet. Among them will be some that suggest specific sustainable ideas. So, you’ll be very welcome if you decide to visit regularly.

I resolve this year, twenty- five,

to help keep the planet alive.

I’ll watch ECO-VERSES,

and, oppose all the curses 

Of C O G S, and each day ECO-STRIVE.

And you can find more about the thinking behind the growing collection of CLIMERICKS HERE  

Come Women! Come Women, Help Earth

 

Come women! Come women, help Earth.

If you once have, or soon, will give birth,

through the CLIMCUBE* campaign,

give the COGS** CORPS sharp pains,

in their greedy objective, net worth.

 

*COGS = Coal, Oil, Gas, Shale (This acronym is going to be encountered over and over again in further CLIMERICKS which are the outward looking faces of a CLIMCUBE (see below)

 

I write this having given a lot of thought to the possible ways in which anger can be expressed at consistent failures in almost every country, to formulate plans and make policies that will address the undeniable catastrophe our planet is facing. These plans and policies have almost always been made by men. I therefore conclude that what seems to me an instinctive desire for the vulnerable – and our planet is decidedly vulnerable right now makes it more likely that it will be women who save us, as they have done the Anglican church who would simply have run out of men to run it if they had not ordained women 30 years ago. 

 

The *CLIMCUBE displays CLIMERICKs, which, being only five lines long, cannot, of course, encompass every aspect I would have liked. So it appears exclusive of women who cannot or decide not to have offspring, a decision which I imagine might be a painful one, precisely because of this very climate threat. Such a decision can only be made more difficult with the lack of care for our common home being shown by those in power, 

 

No! To the contrary. I have the privilege of knowing single women who care passionately for the Earth and are prepared to take considerable risk to try and raise awareness of just how precarious our situation is right now. I am thankful for them

 

I am thankful, too, for the many Climate-caring men who are also excluded in this short burst of verse.  

 

But in terms of rallying the vast numbers of people who need to make politicians aware that they are failing millions of us, I suspect steering the CLIMERICK  towards women is a sound idea.

 

Women, too might, I guess, be more likely to voice                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       concern that profit is allowed, disgracefully,  to be put way above concern for people (ask many indigenous and poor people). 

 

That is, of course, because it maintains the power imbalances that enable the rich to consistently oppress the poor who are the end-of-the-line victims of Climate injustice.

 

Thus, any five-liner cannot possibly address the immense sweep of all this. 

 

But I hope my plea to women of all situations, to rally to this cause, which just might help save the Earth and us, will speak to many who read it, and prompt the response, 

 

‘I CAN do something: I can protest and teach my children and their children to protest at every opportunity.’

 

I, for one, and possibly unfairly in view of my comments above, am pinning a lot of my hope on you? 

Find more about the thinking behind the growing collection of CLIMERICKS HERE   

  

CLIMERICK: World leaders you MUST now go green AND delivery of first seasonal gift-climcube

As we approach a New Year with all the apprehensions about the state of our planet, there is only one Climate concern to voice really. 

In the next few days we’ll be exploring how that might be done with CLIMERICKS and CLIMCUBE.

I delivered one as a Christmas Eve gift to a young man at the till in our local garden centre. It will be very interesting to hear, in due course what he made of it: almost certainly his most unusual seasonal gift - ever!

He had, in a previous brief conversation told me he was into Climate change in his studies, so I hope he felt supported by this gift from one of the generation who must bear most of the responsibility of this catastrophe. 

The world needs young people of his generation to be prepared to take on the politicians for whom the CLIMERICK below is intended.

World leaders, you MUST now go green,

for not to go green is obscene,

The health of your land

lies firm in your hand.

You must kill all fossil fuel streams.

HAPPY CLIMERICKS CHRISTMAS!

 The Shepherds’ Message (Poem)

Cathedral Christmas Tree at 

Durham Cathedral 

I remember, oh how I remember,

that night and the following day:

the angels, the singing, the scurrying

and the sweet smell of clean bedding-hay.

A baby with parents bewildered

at our finding the byre where they’d lodged.

Such a very strange place for Messiah

to be born, for the purpose of God.

 

When we left as the new day was breaking

there were people who work at first light,

and we realised we should not keep secret

the wonders we’d witnessed that night.

So we, who live mainly in silence,

to detect sounds of lion, wolf or thief,

found our tongues running wild with our message,

of a child bringing goodwill and peace

 

By the time we got back to the hillside,

we'd been stopped any number of times,

for the story had travelled like wildfire,

even faster than tales about crimes!

For some it was just as the prophets

had foretold - of God coming to earth:

to others a nonsense - but useful

to gossip and boost their self-worth

 

It was strange how a group of mere shepherds,

‘outsiders’ in ordinary times,

became sought after, visited, talked-of,

for our witness of Yahweh’s sublime

way of breaking the news of Messiah

throughout Bethlem's valleys and hills.

In no time it was voiced in Jerusalem,

stirring hearts, both for good and for ill.

Trevor Thorn

Normal Climericks posting will resume on Friday 27th

TO THE INTERFERING MR MUSK

 

    Pixabay free image of Musk

I don’t usually post on Sundays, but there are times to work outside self imposed rules - even when they have their roots in  Biblical commandment.  But today, I feel utterly incensed that American mega-bucks are trying to shift this country even further to the right than we are being taken by our own leadership (I use that last word with some reservation, too and am glad we didn’t vote Labour). So I have sent a message to this effect, to the BBC via their website and it will be interesting to see if they find any space for it.

'Re your item relating to Musk’s obsession with Britain and The Observer’s Front Page ’56% of public back political donations gap’ I am part of that majority and I wonder if others among them will warm to my sentiments

ELON MUSK, DON’T YOU INTERFERE,

WE DON’T WANT YOUR MEGA-BUCKS HERE,

DISTORTING OUR SYSTEM,

THROUGH FLAWED POLITICIANS.

GO HOME, WHERE YOUR TRUMP WILL CAUSE FEAR.

CLIMERICK: IF WE WANT A PLANET THAT’S FITTER by Trevor Thorn

       Image free by Pixabay

If we want a planet that’s fitter,

‘fraid it’s out with the baubles* and glitter.*

With paper and patience

retro-style decorations,

can deck any house or bed-sitter.

(*plastics alert!)

Whilst composing this, as I installed a new printer just in time to

print our Christmas Letter, I realised that Climericks can be

brought to bear on EVERY CLIMATE INJUSTICE, every PURCHASING EXCESS and

EVERY BAD CLIMATE DECISION by our Leaders. Oh Wow!

GO VERSIFYERS GO. Identify the issue, write the CLIMERICK and post it on FB, BlueSky

and even on X, formerly Twitter - in the days that it was a benign medium (see what I mean?)

CLIMERICK:A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FOR THE MEGA RICH AND THEIR SPOUSES OR PARTNERS

This literally came to me last night!

😖

You mega rich barons, like Di-Vees,

Need to heed your up coming crises:

If Laz’rus still waits,

Outside your gates,

Your long term future looks dicey.

This becomes a CLIMERICK (Climate concern Limerick) because these guys could do more for CLIMATE JUSTICE in one day than most of us could do in a lifetime.

What about it guys?

If you want some ideas, look further at this blog out it’s companion blog http://eco-verses.com or search this blog further and listen to The Canticle of the Turning

THOUGHT FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT AND.......ad infinitum

 The world’s greatest leader

Will be the one

Who kills fossil fuel first.

CLIMERICK: WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO BUY CLOTHES

This morning’s Climerick is for any of you about to make a clothing purchase - YOU CAN MAKE A REAL CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT

photo from EARTH.ORG site

When you are about to buy clothes

Check the seller is one among those

With a clear E S G*

That will tell you and me

If it’s trading will add to Earth’s woes

ESG = Environmental, Sustainability and Governance Report. You will find an excellent summary of what an ESG has to contain in Wikipedia . If even 1 in 5 purchasers of on-line goods would start to put pressure on clothing sales companies - and then check them to see how those companies perform, those contributing to excess waste, using slave labour, and with other damaging practices would find their sales would diminish and have to reform or die. YOU CAN HELP 

INTRODUCING CLIMCUBE: A TABLEPIECE -A WAY OF SPARKING CLIMATE CARE CONVERSATIONS

COMING SHORTLY (In time for Christmas)

Instructions to make and use your very own 

CLIMCUBE - 

With CLIMERICKS

Visit us again to find out how.

CLIMERICK: Is This Just a Ghastly Nightmare? By Olusola Sophia Anyanwu

  KEEPING CLIMATE CONCERN

CONVERSATIONS ALIVE with... 

 Is this just a ghastly nightmare?

 

My bed, a raft floating up here

the sea's in my room,

Can’t be swept with a broom

So much water – it’s left me in tears!

Find more about the thinking behind the growing collection of CLIMERICKS HERE 

NEW CLIMERICKS WILL APPEAR ON THIS SITE TWICE WEEKLY - SO KEEP LOOKING TO STAY UP TO DATE.  

A Pile of Shells

I’m not quite sure what drew me to look back at some of my earliest poems, but it was fascinating to be reminded what had motivated me back in 1974/5.

This poem must have been written in late 1975 and I could wish that I had had the platform of a blog then to give it a higher profile than simply inhabiting a now rather elderly exercise book. Still, better late than never! And nothing has changed. Indeed it may be worse.

Pixabay free image.

A Pile of Shells

On a billion golden grains, 

by a dank breakwaters side,

lies a careless heap of shells, 

stranded by an ebbing tide.

 

Intermingled tiny stones,

polished by the seas caress,

cast a dancing light about.

from the sun-rays they possess.

 

Here an incandescent pink, 

hides inside a banded black;

ambers, blues and deep maroons,

sparkle from the glittering stack.

 

Shapes so weird and wonderful,

form those tiny cast off homes;

perfect miniatures which housed.

strange crustacea in their domes.

 

Beauty from the sudden death,

met by creatures of the sea,

and around this cenotaph

lies the junk of you and me.

 

Rusty cans of ‘brown’ and ‘light’, 

plastic drums for multi-grade;

strands of rubber, lumps of tar,

broken glass of every shade.

 

Globs of half congeal-ed oil,

polystyrene, bric-a-brac;

cast off plimsolls, broken bricks,

drums for poisonous this or that.

 

Think! Maybe that host of shells 

would be smaller had not we

scattered wide our worldly waste,

making a trash can of the sea.

A few more earlier poems on similar topics will emerge over the next few weeks as I trawl my collection further.

 

 

 

 

CLIMERICK: Let Florida Batten Down Hatches.

 Modified Pixabay free image of a Dodo

 

Let Florida batten down hatches:

California boost your fire watches.

Dodo Donald don’t care,

what is spewed into air

though it causes gargantuan trashes.

This is a CLIMERICK (Climate Concern Limerick). You will find lots more at 

http://eco-verses.blogspot.com

CLIMERICK: O COP WHERE YOU DIGITALISE

A CLIMERICK for COP 29 Digitalisation Day

KEEPING CLIMATE CONCERN

CONVERSATIONS ALIVE with... 

O COP where you digitalise,

the world needs you all to be wise,

and drive global trends

that will bring to an end

excessive resource use and lies!

And you can find more about the thinking behind the growing collection of CLIMERICKS HERE