Discourse with Friends

/ delphini510

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Discourse with Friends

I wish I could speak with animals
in their language or mine,
What a wonder to hear each one;

What would the lion have to say
or the bird in the tree?

I might be careful speaking to Crocodile,
when he says hello I might fall in;
He might choke.

Mr and Mrs Elephant are high on my list,
so huge, yet gentle and kind. 
They could tell how to rear the young;

Also tell about their fear of homo sapiens,
especially those carrying killing machines.
Their sadness and grief at bereavements,
losses of mothers, fathers and kids.

They ask why?

To comfort myself I walk into the sea,
play with the Dolphins and listen
to the bright and happy exchange.

Their spirits are high but there is a sadness too,
do you know what happened to our food?
So much is now harming our young – and us all.

Meeting Mr and Mrs Elk in the forest glade,
they said the same as the Elephants,
also added, do you know why?
What could I say?

Mankind is yet not enlightened enough,
can’t understand;

The Sanctity of Life.

© miriam ivarson

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48 thoughts on “Discourse with Friends”

  3. Miriam, a beautiful post and I love the idea of a discourse with our friends from the animal kingdom! 😀 One feels their wisdom would surpass our own and would express their sheer bewilderment at our actions that affect this wonderful world! I feel your sheer joy at the thought of joining the dolphins in the ocean, sensing their excitement of life itself … of course you’d have to chat with your gravatar namesake …Delphini! A sobering conclusion to this exquisite, playful and serious poem … when will we learn to treasure the sanctity of life!? Hugs xx ❤️

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    • Annika, thank you for this absolutely wonderful and deep comment.
      You feel both the joy and the sadness. They are all intermingled.
      I especially smile at the wise words ” 😀 One feels their wisdom would surpass our own …”. Could very well be true as they adapted in harmony with the environment around them.
      Indeed, are we as a race prepared to treasure the sanctity of life.
      Xx 💕
      miriam

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  6. Oh, so beautiful and poignant, Miriam ❤

    I share your response: "Mankind is yet not enlightened enough, / can’t understand; // The Sanctity of Life." Thank you for spreading awareness.

    The few among us who understand the sanctity of life lack the political power to change the pervasive narrative–enforced with lies, misinformation, deception, and military might–that places profits before life.

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    • Thanks for your wonderful comment Rosaliene, it warms my heart.
      That you feel the poem spreads awareness fills me with gratitude.
      The more we all understand how we all are united on this Earth the greater the chance is for change.
      Let us go forward in positive spirit and be glad that the environmental issues are taken very serious now – including that of our animals. 💕🦋

      Miriam

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  7. What a lovely discourse, may I join in?
    While the bird in the tree would charm you with her lilting song, the lion might discuss some serious issues with you Miriam. Birds have more choices, as they are not shackled by the greed of humans…I would like to fly with them but I would be speechless when asked why those killing machines are available so freely…probably your answer is more thoughtful dear friend. William Wordsworth’s words echo around me… “What man has made of man!”

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  8. Thanks for your beautiful comment Balroop and I am happy you want to take part of the discourse. Fascinating they all are. Birds do stand for freedom as they so easily can fly away but yet they are part of the same environment as we all. The Lion looks like a deep thinker, and he is beautiful.

    I love your Wordsworth quote, how true it is. Now, man will have to do better of man. 💕 .

    miriam

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  11. This is beautifully written, Miriam. I have many birds in my garden. I wish I could talk with them, but they come at the same hour every day for feeding. Some perch on the wires, and if I’m late, they come down to the patio to remind me. I also have a family of three hummingbirds going nowhere but the front and the back garden. I’ll see if they stay for winter. 🙂 ❤

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  12. Thank you Miriam for your kind words.
    Like you I quietly talk to the birds each day and have many in the garden. squirrel is a curious and quick witted conversationalist too…..no hummingbirds here, too cold. 😊. I do get deers too at times.

    Be it that we all understood each other – emotionally.

    miriam

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  13. Straight from the heart, almost like stream of consciousness thinking.
    On another note, our cat is very vocal and has a different cry or meow for everything. For example, She gives a little yip when we let her in. I’m sure she means it as a thank you.

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    • Thank you for your lovely comment Jennifer. I like the ‘ Stream if Consciousness ‘ 😊 , one English poet called it Tumblers. Many are like that for me, the editing comes after.
      Your cat and pets in general do indeed develop a language that humans can understand. All animals between themselves have their own. It is amazing.
      There are scientific study of the language of whales, dolphins … and the pattern makes full sense as a language even to our ears.

      Miriam

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  14. You got me on this one, Miriam. I have such respect for all life–plants even–that I no longer can abide by killing animals even to prolong human life. I won’t make that choice–that we are better. I don’t even think we are.

    Thank you for this poem.

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  15. Thanks Jacqui, I am so glad you liked it.
    I really do speak to birds …. got a good conversation going with one of the resident blackbirds. Talking to plants is beneficial to them and us.

    Respect and love goes a long way to establish harmony between all living things.

    miriam

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  16. Wonderful perception to your title, Miriam, and so poignant in this current day of our planet suffering. Man has enjoyed many conveniences, but sadly, those conveniences have been at the expense of our animal friends. This is one of my favorites. xo

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  17. Thank you for your beautiful comment, Lauren. I am so glad you liked this poem as I was very hesitant before posting. It all started with the title and flowed on from there. Maybe we are so aware of the suffering brought to the planet and its inhabitant that it subconsciously worries us.

    Happily there are great steps being taken so harmony will one day be restored. Xo
    Miriam

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  18. Miriam,, as I read your post I wonder also in delight at understanding what our animal brethren have to share with us. Could it be that within there seaming. simple way of life that they know the deep secrets of life,

    Thought-provoking and beautifully written… jc

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  19. Thank you for your lovely and pondering comment Jeff. I am glad you liked my words.
    I wouldn’t be surprised if the animals , with their age old connection to life and the mysteries of our planet, are in tune with what to us seems secret. To them it might be as normal as pressing a button on a machine is to us.
    Bless

    miriam

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  20. Yup. I am with that thought daily. We live in a somewhat insular world on this island in the middle of the sea. Yet even here there is ignorance and cruelty to animals and nature. How best to elevate awareness in the collective if many just don’t care? I have to trust mother nature is always going to be the best teacher. We have yet to see all she has in store, may never see. But I suspect she’s got some tricks up her sleeve. 😉😘

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  21. Thank you for your thoughtful comment Bela. I am glad you are with me in my thinking. Maybe I am a dreamer but I think more and more people care
    and this thought is borne out as I listen to young intelligent students.
    I totally agree with you Bela, Mother Nature is the best teacher but as part of the whole we need to cooperate.
    I do agree about the tricks up the sleeve, we are small in the whole, yet able to upset.🤗😉

    Miriam

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  24. I so love this! I remember when I first read Dr. Dolittle, and I always wanted to be able to talk to the animals. Then again, would we really want to hear what they have to say about us? Another wonderfully insightful poem, Miriam! Thank you for sharing this with us 🙂

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  25. Julie, thank you so much for your sweet words. So Dr Dolittle was your first inspiration and a great one at that.
    I smile at your question whether we really want to know what the animals say … it might not all be complimentary. Then again, we would learn something new. 💕 . Shall we take the risk? 😊

    Miriam

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  26. This goes right to my soul. You have done a good job speaking for the animals who need out help. I often wonder what the whales think when someone disentangles them from a net. I hope they tell others that all humans are not bad. Some of us are trying. But how are they to know we have so far to go?

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  27. Thank you JoAnna, what a wonderful place for my words to go. To your soul.
    I agree with you that humans in principle are not bad. Maybe growing awareness will continue to win. Along with so many I hope so.

    Miriam

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  31. Thank you Dorne for your kind response. You are right about us messing up,
    behaving thoughtlessly and ignorant at times. But there are changes and
    more and more people are enjoying and understanding our Earth and its riches.

    Miriam

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  32. I love your poem. And in some ways, I do feel like I “talk” or at least communicate with the animals and birds. Even the wild turkey who comes by every once in a while. I was in complete communication with my dog Henry, and I’m close to total understanding with my grand-dog Charlie. Your poem here is RIGHT ON.

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  33. Pam, thank you for your beautiful comment. Yes, I have read your posts and know how you talk to your animal friends. If we just could exchange this kind of communication to the wild we have won. Just like us humans, animals feel and understand when you speak with love.
    I loved meeting Wild Turkey whilst in U.S. what do you two talk about? 😊 .

    Miriam

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  35. What a beautiful, thoughtful poem, Miriam. I think the closer we get to a digital, technical lifestyle, the further we get from our intuition. Computers make some things so easy, like distancing ourselves from the natural world and not recognizing the harm we do to the glorious innocence of those whose language and culture is not our own. I wonder what life would be like if everyone’s digital devices shut down every single day but not at scheduled times? Would we be forced to interact in a more holistic way?

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  36. Sharon, thank you for your wonderful comment.
    You are not wrong there, technology doesn’t help much for us too be grounded. Yes, I agree, stopping the digital devices would cause both havoc and for some – peace. If we can but use the devices without being dependent
    we would put more emphasis on the natural world around us.
    Bless

    Miriam

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  38. Ahh … Cynthia, thank you for your beautiful comment. I am so glad you
    felt with the poem and understood. As to the last lines, you are right, they are sad but we have to believe there will be more and more understanding.

    Miriam

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