no ferryman

I am glad to see so serious a topic shouting from your cursor. It is a good thing to take a stand. This poem continues a long dialogue. Perhaps the most famous version of this warning is The Club of Rome's "Limits of Growth" which has sold 30 million copies since being published in 1972. The science magazine New Scientist reported 19 November 2008 on a study by the Australian research organisation CSIRO, which found "changes in industrial production, food production and pollution are all in line with the Club of Rome's predictions". The contrasting arguement is the UN's Brundtland Commission Report, entitled "Our Common Future", which was published in 1987. Our common future is less we/they in apportioning responsibility and probably more hopeful in mixing growth with ideas of "sustainability". The secretariate of the Brundtland Commission (which did the actual writing) relied heavily of proteges of Canadian Maurice Strong, Secretary General of the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and the 1992 UN Earth Summit (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)). Generally, I prefer the Club of Rome's emphasis on restraint but with the pointing finger aimed at all of us, not just corporate greed. From a practical standpoint, have-not countries of the world are not about to freeze their rates of consuption at a level 1/1000th of ours. So, the leadership is eminantly in the 1st world's court. Thank you for the long delay, George W. Bush (not). Brian

wow... such a turn from where you are usually in your writings... powerful stuff here... yes, an unexpected pleasure, thank you for posting this! Richard

This is very good dear Craig. I love it that you are using your talent and extra ordinary writing skills to write about important things that we all should think about. Even in Nero's Rome, the poor were driven away from the poor shanty towns because the land has risen in value and wealthy entrepreneurs wanted it - as in Rio de Janeiro in 1960 and in Shanghai today. Greed is a timeless thing - and flourish in any system. Today it seems to flourish more than ever but in front of God we are all the same though and then it doesnt help with a shiny suit the only thing that will count is what is in the heart.. I love what is in yours. Love. o molly

this is a new side of you that you reveal here, and I agree with everyone above on how powerful this write is. You might want to correct a couple of apostrophe issues ( children's l.2, parents' l.12, world's l.21) and what about populations (l.9)? Either a comma or an apostrophe, methinks... Apart from that, I loved this rant of yours, injustice and selfishness obviously infuriate you. That I can relate to this feeling certainly isn't much of a surprise. Yours, ~Nina

It has all been said with eloquence and knowledge thats just opened my mind a little further (thanks Brian) ... Important poem for you I think ... you have walked away from the romantic well, with style and your writing just gets better and better kin regards Jayne

(You are probably sick of hearing what a powerful write this is, but I am going to agree with this sentiment, it is very powerful.) I think many can relate to your feelings on greed, selfishness, and a total disregard for the health of our only home, the planet Earth. I admire this write and your ability to express yourself in such an eloquent manner. Always, Cat