Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Demise


Demise


I never thought I'd see the day

When Tiger moths would go away.

Am full of upset, anger and pain

Now seldom will we see again.


Void of colour that filled the sky;

They really are in short supply!

I think back over fifty years;

Things have become so unclear.


Our gardens' were full on in flight

Where Red Admirals and Cabbage White

Adorned the flowers and the walls,

Hardly any creatures at nightfall.


Tortoiseshell pupa could be found

On nettles, or crawling on the ground.

On Privet leaves lived long and furry,

Stroke them and they'd roll up curly!


Kept in jam-jars, fed it leaves -

Kept it safe I do believe.

Until the time it started to weave

Then fly away when safe to leave.


Their habitats are being replaced

By new-builds taking up their space.

Artificial grass, insecticides;

Until no more we'll see them fly.


Endemic fields have been burnt down

By vandals from their concrete town,

So further now they're in decline

Wished I kept them safe in a shrine.


The Common White, now so rare,

The Peacock disappeared, but where?

Feeling sad from their demise

Miss the pretty Moths and Butterflies.


Copyright Linda Lawrence

3rd May 2017

For my Dad


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