Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Global Warming and Forest Fire

Art guides man out of the unknown
Global Warming and Forest Fire

Dr Abe V Rotor

Global Warming and Forest Fire in acrylic by the author

There's irony in art: one said, it's beautiful;
     I like the bright color, said another;
It is as if it were real, a critic commented;
     but what's the message, brother?

One asked if I painted it right on-the-spot;
     a child thought it was by imagination;
a man was furious: who burned the forest? 
     blaming one and the whole nation. 

Calmly I said, it's an effect of global warming,
      and man's folly plus the phenomenon; 
 art takes the lead, breaking man's indifference,
      and guides him out of the unknown. ~ 


Monday, December 25, 2017

Children and Nature - An Omnipotent Treaty (Universal Children's Month, November 2022)


Universal Children's Day 
In celebration of the United Nations Children's Day Month (November 2022

Investing in our future means investing in our children — which is why the United Nations has designated every November 20 as Universal Children’s Day. It’s a time to promote togetherness around the world, awareness of the problems children face in every corner of the globe, and improve the welfare for all children.

Wall Mural (7ft x 90ft) by Dr Abe V Rotor 
 
"A thing of beauty is a boy forever." AVR  wall mural at author's residence, 
Barangay Greater Lagro, QC 

Three young musketeers are set to conquer the world 
      away from the mall, home and school;
If Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were real and alive today, 
     we wouldn't know who's genius, who's fool.

Who is the primitive, who is the civilized, oh brother!
      when we prefer the city over the quaint village,
car for walking distance, processed over fresh food,
      philosophy over instinctive knowledge.

Everything defined in rich vocabulary, but a rose is a rose
      and nothing else, energy to matter and back, 
universal cycles no genius will ever truly understand,
     Homo sapiens! it is humility we lack.  

Innocence in children, we make up for the falsehood
      of the world of grownups and sages;
Einstein and Darwin never knew the whys of the world,
      children have been asking for ages.

If genius is reborn in the innocence of children, 
      then knowledge into wisdom distilled, 
compensated in old age for the young ones' sake:
     'tis the fate of humanity in Nature sealed. ~      

“When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.” ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind
 
 
 
  
  “I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I took joy in the things that made me happy.”  ― Neil Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
                            

“and when all the wars are over, a butterfly will still be beautiful.” 
― Ruskin Bond, Scenes from a Writer's Life
 

Children and Nature 
“Because children grow up, we think a child's purpose is to grow up. But a child's purpose is to be a child. Nature doesn't disdain what lives only for a day. It pours the whole of itself into the each moment. We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in its flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung? The dance when it's been danced?

It's only we humans who want to own the future, too. We persuade ourselves that the universe is modestly employed in unfolding our destination. We note the haphazard chaos of history by the day, by the hour, but there is something wrong with the picture. Where is the unity, the meaning, of nature's highest creation? Surely those millions of little streams of accident and willfulness have their correction in the vast underground river which, without a doubt, is carrying us to the place where we're expected! But there is no such place, that's why it's called utopia.

The death of a child has no more meaning than the death of armies, of nations. Was the child happy while he lived? That is a proper question, the only question. If we can't arrange our own happiness, it's a conceit beyond vulgarity to arrange the happiness of those who come after us.” ― Tom Stoppard, The Coast of Utopia


“Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.” 
― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose

Three Mysteries of Life

Three Mysteries of Life

On the occasion Atty and Mrs Jess and Remy Pajarillo's 50th Wedding Anniversary December 23 2017

By Dr Abe V Rotor

There is one commodity in life that, whenever you divide it, it multiplies. (unlike money or pizza pie) It defies mathematical rule, or any scientific law. It is the most important thing in life while we are on earth. It is universal and crosses all borders - race, culture, country, age, status, time and space, for that matter. What is it?



Above, author and wife Cecille Rotor, pose with celebrant. Left, sunset over Quirino Bridge, Banaoang Pass, Santa, Ilocos Sur

The second great mystery of life is that, life begins at 40, or 50 or 60, or 100. Though it may had started in childhood or in youth. It starts when we think the road has ended. Or when the race is over, when we think we didn’t get what we wanted.

The third mystery of life is that love is sweeter the second time around. I say after 50 years of happy marriage. When the sun turns golden, we say we are in our golden years. (“The gold that is sunset,” may be likened to “the glory that was Greece, the grandeur that was Rome.”)

I believe that our celebrants don’t find these mysteries odd and strange. It is not because they have cracked their secrets, but it is for the reason that they have earned the true understanding to these three mysteries of life – by obligingly submitting themselves to their very source – the all-knowing Omnipotent Being.

I’ll play a popular Filipino composition, invariably arranged kundiman, serenade or ballad. It is a song written by Filipino composer Constancio de Guzman. It was covered by singers such as The New Minstrels, Pilita Corrales, Eva Eugenio, Leo Valdez, Diomedes Maturan and Ryan Cayabyab. To have an idea what the title is, here is a select part of its lyrics:

O, how delicious life is
especially with someone to love
The joy in my heart
will nevermore vanish.

The answer to the first mystery of life – one commodity that whenever you divide it, will multiply. Begins with H, three syllables. HAPPINESS. 

The next piece I’ll play leads us to the second mystery, Why life starts at 40, 50 or 100. And to the third mystery, why love is sweeter after 50 years of happy married life. Here is a select part of its lyrics. 

Composed by Enrico Tosseli (1883-1926), an Italian pianist and composer his most popular work is Serenata (Rimpianto), which has been popularized as Nightingale, a thrush (Luscinia megarhynchos) noted for the sweet usually nocturnal song of the male. Nightingale also refers to any of various other birds noted for their sweet song or for singing at night. I’ll close my eyes as I play Nightingale and imagine the nightingale’s sweet song.

Like a golden dream, in my heart e'er smiling.
Lives a vision fair of happy love I knew in days gone by.
Still I seem to hear, your laughter beguiling.
Still to see the joy, the love light beaming from your radiant eyes.

Let’s give a big round of applause to the celebrants – Manong Jess and Manang Remy – and to their children and grandchildren, May they be guided always by these three mysteries of life, to be the source of hope, inspiration, peace, sharing, and HAPPINESS.

I thank you.

Maalaala Mo Kaya
is a song written by Filipino composer Constancio de Guzman.
It was covered by singers such as The New Minstrels, Pilita Corrales, Eva Eugenio, Leo Valdez, Diomedes Maturan and Ryan Cayabyab.
“Maalala Mo Kaya” has been a part of every Filipino home. Each episode features real-life story that brings laughter and tears that strengthen the ties that bind all of Kapamilyas wherever they are in the world.

Maalaala Mo Kaya? (Would You Remember?)
ORIGINAL TAGALOG LYRICS

Maalaala mo kaya
ang sumpa mo sa akin
na ang pag-ibig mo ay
sadyang di magmamaliw

Kung nais mong matanto
buksan ang aking puso
At tanging larawan mo
ang doo’y nakatago.

‘Di ka kaya magbago
sa iyong pagmamahal
Tunay kaya giliw ko
hanggang sa libingan?

O, kay sarap mabuhay
lalo na’t may lambingan
Ligaya sa puso ko
ay di na mapaparam


FREE ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Would you remember
your oath to me
that your love would
never fade

If you want to understand
open my heart
Only your picture
is hidden there.

Wouldn’t your love
change?
Would you really be
my love till the grave?

O, how delicious life is
especially with someone to love
The joy in my heart
will nevermore vanish.

TOSELLI'S SERENADE
(Music : Enrico Toselli)
Mario Lanza & Mary Schneider
Rimpianto, one of the sweetest serenades, was composed by Enrico Toselli (1883-1926), an Italian pianist and composer who wrote operetta, chamber music, and songs, including his best-known, this Serenata (Rimpianto). The lyrics were written by Alfredo Silvestri. Born on March 13, 1883, Enrico Toselli, Count of Montignoso, was an Italian pianist and composer. His most popular composition is Serenata ('Rimpianto) Op.6. No.1. This version, known as “Dreams and Memories” with Como`s perfect velvet voice, is tune from his album “Perry Como in Italy”, released in 1966. and English lyrics were written by Carl Sigman.

Like a golden dream, in my heart e'er smiling.
Lives a vision fair of happy love I knew in days gone by.
Still I seem to hear, your laughter beguiling.
Still to see the joy, the love light beaming from your radiant eyes.

Will my dreaming be in vain?
Will my love ne'er come again?
Oh, come, shall we waste the golden hours of youth far apart?
What care I for live, without you by my side?

Do not delay, the hours slip away.
Your arms are my paradise.
You and only you can fill my heart.
Oh, star of my heaven,

Come back and shed your light upon my way.
Come back! Come back! ~

Saturday, December 23, 2017

It's Bougainvillea Season! “The bougainvillea is the most extravagantly beautiful flowering plant in all of nature.” – Christopher Turner

San Vicente Botanical Garden,
 It's Bougainvillea Season!

“The bougainvillea is the most extravagantly beautiful 
flowering plant in all of nature.” – Christopher Turner

Dr Abe V Rotor

The Siberian High brings in the chilly air;
it's amihan, summer soon to take over,
 and wakes the mystical bougainvillea fair,
     on the landscape in prodigious cover. - avr

Bougainvillea spectabilis in bloom across the fence of San Vicente Botanical 
Garden,  San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.  Photos taken by the author, January 15, 2023 

Bougainvillea is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees belonging to the four o' clock family, Nyctaginaceae. It is native to eastern South America, found from Brazil, west to Peru, and south to southern Argentina. Different authors accept from 4 to 22 species in the genus. The first species recorded in the Philippines was Bougainvillea spectabilis. The other species, B. glabra and B. peruviana were introduced much later. Grenada's national flower is the Bougainvillea.

Botanically speaking, the flowers of bougainvillea are not true flowers in the sense that they do not have petals and other floral parts typical of a true flower.  The colored petals are modified leaves, specialized to attract bees, butterflies - including humans - to pollinate and fertilize the tiny true flowers centrally located, which seldom develop seeds. Bougainvillea is mainly propagated by cuttings. 

By the way,  bougainvillea is named after a person. It was first discovered by the French botanist Philibert Commerson in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the 1760s. The name Bougainvaillea was named after his friend sailor Louis de Bougainville. ~

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Third Eye

Third Eye

Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature - School on Blog

Lesson: Do you have a third eye? If so, can you tell the future? 
Read and analyze the poem.

Morning Flight, Wall Mural AVR 2000 St Paul University QC

Fantasy or reality - how can we tell
One from the other without a third eye?
Ah, but epics live on through the ages,
As classics live through their spell,
And Gulliver as told by the sages.

The third eye tells of a coming storm,
No less than the vagaries of the mind;
But what the future holds remains locked
In God's will until the time has come,
Beyond fantasy or reality or luck. ~

The World of Numbers

Dr Abe V Rotor
Lesson: Continue with this list to enrich your vocabulary for use in school and in conversation.  

A swarm of locust

 We are fond of numbers and we use different terms to denote animals, plants and our own species. These terms given to groups of animals give us distinct and more vivid imagery about their natural gregarious character.

Here are common examples.

• Lions – pride
• Goat – trip
• Cows – flink
• Sheep – flock
• Birds – flock 
• Fishes – school
• Ants - colony

• Flies – swarm
• Cattle – herd
• Bacteria – colony
• Geese – gaggle (on the ground); skein (in the air)

A flock of birds

Grouping of plants is unique. Botanists and agriculturists use terms like tillers, as in rice; suckers in banana, runners and stolons in gabi and Bermuda grass, slips in pineapple. All these refer to the asexual progeny of a mother plant, duplicating itself many times in its lifetime. These are agronomic terms: a paddy of rice, an orchard, a grove of coconut, a plot or patch of vegetables.

Among us humans we use many terms such as a battery of lawyers, a battalion or platoon of soldiers, class in schools, team in games. a choir, a batch of graduates, or simply throng for a huge crowd. In an organization we group people into departments, divisions, sections, etc, specifying work and responsibility. Then we have such terms as congregation, fraternity, gang, and the like.

Systematics became a science not only to quantify but organize numbers. In biology, systematics which refers to identification and classification of organisms adopts the terms kingdom, phylaor division, class, order, family, genus and species, among sub-types, including smaller categories as races, varieties, breeds, accessions and cultivars.

Numbers, numbers, numbers - we live by numbers.

x x x

Reference: Living with Folk Wisdom, by AV Rotor, UST Press Manila

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

New Horizon of Literature in our Postmodern World

Dr Abe V Rotor 


Literature has come a long way through the traditional test of time until it inevitably entered into a sudden acceleration of change along other fields of endeavor. We are caught in a fast changing world brought about by breakthroughs in science and technology, the explosion of knowledge on the Internet, communication networking through social media, and globalization of nations and cultures into one homogenous village, so to speak.

This is the era of Postmodernism, which literally means “living tomorrow today” where everything seems to be moving in an “free fall,” borrowing the words of Dr Florentino H Hornedo, a foremost Filipino social scientist and UNESCO Commissioner.

Philippine Literature Today: A Travelogue Approach takes us into a journey along the path on which literature has come a long way, evolving with richer diversity in so short a time that generations, old and new alike, are brought together closer through the beauty and bounty of the subject of literature.

· Literature has come a long way from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables to Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere to Martin Luther’s King’s I Have a Dream;

· from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to Francisco Balagtas’ Florante at Laura to Spielberg’s Jurassic Park;

· Aesop’s Fables and Grimm Brothers’ Cinderella to Severino Reyes’ Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang to Disneyland’s animated characters.

· Ben Jonson’s Song to Celia to Leona Florentino’s Rukruknoy to Telenobela;

· Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey to Pedro Bucaneg’s Biag ni Lam-ang to Flash Gordon and Starwars; and

· from Nostrodamus: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow to Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock to Higg’s Boson: Link of Energy and Matter. 

Philippine Literature aims at guiding students, in the light of present day trends, to trace back the foundation of literature’s basic tenets and principles and preserve its integrity and true essence. Four pillars of Philippine literature stand sentinel to help the students answer the question “Quo vadis?” To where are we heading for? 
                                    

 Vanguards of Philippine Literature
  Four great Filipinos are acclaimed vanguards of Philippine Literature. The cover of the book, conceptualized and made by artist Leo Carlo R Rotor, depicts the theme of the book - travelogue in literature with these heroes.

· Jose Rizal on politico-socio-cultural subjects, including ecological, Rizal being an environmentalist while in exile in Dapitan, Misamis Oriental, Mindanao;

· Francisco Baltazar or Balagtas on drama and performing arts in general, fiction novels and plays, evolving into stage show and cinema;

· Severino Reyes or Lola Basyang on mythology, children’s stories, komiks, and a wealth of cartoons and other animations; and

· Leona Florentino, the Philippines’ Elizabeth Browning, Ella Wilcox, Emily Bronte et al, epitomizes the enduring classical literature. 

-------------------------------------------------------------
Philippine Literature – A Travelogue Approach is a sequel to Humanities Today – An Experiential Approach by the same authors and publisher, literature being a major field of humanities, and that the teaching-learning approach adopted in both books is  experiential and exploratory, and largely, on-site and hands-on. It is recommended that the latter be used as a reference in this subject. 
------------------------------------------------------------- 

These great Filipinos contributed immernsely to the making of a distinct kind of literature we proudly call our own. It is linked to a larger realm - the literature of the world, which embodies universal principles and values.

Literature is a conservatory of language and culture, and of the humanities. It is a repository of folk wisdom, beliefs and superstitions. It keeps alive the quaintness of social life. It is a treasure of any society.

But literature first of all, must be a "living" one. It builds ideas and thoughts. It strengthens character and instills discipline. To do so it must be understood by the people down to the grassroots – not for entertainment alone but for enlightenment and realization of life’s meaning. Literature indeed is, for and by the people.

.Literature is a builder of leaders - literary greats are leaders with the power of the pen, power of conviction with words, charisma akin to the “singer, not the song.” Or the “the master behind the masterpiece,” to whose name his work is named after. (Shakespearean, Aristotelian, Darwinian). Leaders are looked up to, in building other leaders as well, who continue the task, to carry on the torch and “guide the nation and people through the night ‘til dawn,” in the epilogue of Rizal’s great works.

· Literature is tested by time and change. It is a refuge to the lost, a way back home for a Prodigal Son. A lighthouse in a stormy sea, birds signaling an island must be near somewhere. It is a breeze in doldrums.


                                         Literature in changing times 
We are being swept by the currents of geometric progress. We face a deluge of information that makes separating the grains from the chaff more difficult, so to speak. And how much more picking only the grains we need? Thus we are being led deeper into a maze that takes us farther in our quest for truth.

With the multi-tasks magic palm-size electronic gadget we call in different names like tablet, i-Pod, and smart phone, the world is now virtually in our hand. Never have we been serious in analyzing William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence, which in part is quoted as follows: 
 
To see the world in a grain of sand.
And a heaven a wild flower;
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand ,
And eternity in an hour.

It is a world shrunk in time and space in one’s lifetime and generation – because technology and affluence have overtaken us at the pace we are used to.

Fortunately we still trace Philosophy back to Socrates, idealism to Plato, Naturalism to Aristotle. We precious independence from colonial rule in Rizal, emancipation of slavery in Lincoln, militancy in women in Tandang Sora and Gabriela Silang, and constitutional reform in the trilogy of the French Revolution - Egalite’, Liberte’ Fraternite’.

Around a bonfire we listen to Aesop, Homer, Scheherazade, Grimm brothers, come alive in vernacular language and costumes. The lament in Shakespearean tragedies, lilting laughter of Jose flying a kite (Saranggola in Pepe), the lyrical melodious pleading of kudiman (Filipino love song), the dirge of pasyon (Passion of Christ) – all these take us to a travelogue back to our roots, to the keepers of that Temple Rizal, Balagtas, Florentino, Reyes, et al built and guarded dutifully and zealously.


                                         Literature and Media
But in today’s capitalism fueled by consumerism, we find the art of literature besieged in a free market where profit is generally the lure and rule. Literature is trapped in this huge market, and if it holds on merely to its past – or just drift aimlessly, then, we may lose its essence, and therefore its treasure.

We must be vigilant to the preservation of literature as the fine art, sensitive to ethics and morality as guide to human actions and behavior, against such issues as pornography, euthanasia, graft and corruption, and issues on the environment that threaten to destroy our living planet. We must regard literature as a powerful tool in preventing war and keeping lasting peace and harmony in society, in keeping faith in our institutions, and our relationship with our Creator, fellowmen, and Nature. It is a travelogue toward the redemption of values and preserving it, indeed a journey on a very rough road.

Commercialization of media has many undesirable consequences to literature, shrouding our thinking and imagination, with the border separating fantasy and reality being eroded. Many creatures are projected with untrue images; while we protect the endangered species, media is making them enemies of mankind – Anaconda, King Kong, The Birds, Jaws rake profits generated by fear and curiosity while leaving false impression especially to the young. Whole forests, mountains and lakes are destroyed to flush out enemies and bad spirits, or to appease a god of wrath.

But there are, in fact, more positive contributions of literature and media in this aspect in the likes of Black Beauty, Babes, Fly Away Home, Free Willy that elevate human consciousness towards understanding animals and other creatures often rising to the level on moralism in Aesop’s fable, Kipling’s Jungle Book and George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

New horizon of Literature 
Literature rides on multimedia today, in a horse-and-carriage relationship. With the conservative print and broadcast journalism on one hand, and the computer and its state-of-the-art versions on the other, the whole world today is “wired,” theoretically speaking.

But the role of each one in this analogy is not simple and clear cut. Their shared domain is a complex one that needs a definition of their boundaries. But the other school of thought is more of establishing a synergistic relationship which means that more can be gained through cooperation and unity with humanity as the ultimate beneficiary.

This is crucial for the fact that millions of people are bypassed by technology, education, healthcare and other basic necessities for which reason riches particularly generated by computer technology are now channeled philanthropically to the underprivileged.

Columnist and radio commentator Larry Henares (center with author and wife. Lower photo: Teodoro “Doroy” Valencia (center) dean of Philippine journalism.

If literature and media are to support this movement, what could be their roles, and how can they join hands to reach the masses? We are gladdened, at the same time challenged, by a number of developments such as the following:

· Popularization of literature to the understanding of the people. Noli the Musical, translated Rizal’s masterpiece into entertainment education for the TV and cinema. In like manner Oliver Twist’s musical version Oliver, Oliver reached as many people as those who have read the novel.

· The Great Books, among them Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables and Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace now have popular versions for bigger audiences, following the footsteps of The Bible.

· Publishing whether in print or electronic is no longer a business monopoly, it can be done in home workshops, so with documentaries and movies. With the computer one can be an author, publisher, critic, marketer, rolled in one.

· The combination of literary and technical forms, with today’s technology, is bringing into our homes dramas of the living world, reenactment of historical events, stories of the different cultures, and many others. This made National Geographic, Discovery, History and other TV series, very popular.

· Scientific discoveries have found literature a tool for dissemination outside of the conventions of science. Titanic, although more fiction than fact could not have been made without the discovery of the ship’s wreckage at the bottom of the sea. An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary film won for Al Gore, the expert on environment and author, the prestigious Academy Award.

· There are animations and cartoons in print or on screen that are gaining merits to be classified as literature. Finding Nemo, Ice Age, Land Before Time, Disney, Barney and Friends and Jim Jam series are among the most popular of this kind. There are homilies, speeches, conference proceedings, diaries which have literary qualities to be classified as pieces of literature. 


The unquantifiable volume of Information has generated waste, in fact pollution – infollution. This is exacerbated by social networking, and continued increase of wireless technology tools and users.

· Literacy rate may have increased but computer literacy is but “coded literacy” which is not true knowledge. This leads us to the question what constitute the genuineness of a work.

· Neophytes and experts now play the same game on the same playground with multimedia. Exclusivity of clubs, imprimatur of quality granted by select groups, stringent criteria of evaluation, and the like will have to undergo scrutiny and eventual innovation. 

If words, the beauty of words; if plot, the proper organization of chapters; if characters and their superb acting make the story alive; if advanced technology the provider of quality and magic – if these are the parameters of acceptance, and not to consider other factors, we may not be exploring a new horizon of literature. We shall miss the opportunity to face a brave new world of literature.

But we have to look back now and then to that temple built by four great Filipinos and their kind. The flickering light through its window gives us courage and comfort when we see no star in the sky. Dawn is a child coming. ~ 
   

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Animals light up our world

Dr Abe V Rotor
Strolling by the pond she's greeted  
     with quaint sound and stare;
a member she soon felt in return 
     to some crumbs to share. 

Can fish sing lullaby, too?
     Oh, how I wish they do, 
and be babysitters too,
    for baby and fish in duo.  

     
This faithful errant though over eager,
      his job done just too well;
to earn admiration from his master
     to say, all's well at the end. 

Hug a bunny when the sky's gray,
     or at the end of a hard day;
Talk to her, she can understand
  more than those in a band. 

    Greeting a boar in its pen,
     a wall away to the open:
freedom and duty,
     fate and destiny.  

A wild pigeon submits to friendship
     but briefly in a cage;
freedom she seeks by an ancient gene
     that will never age.   

An errand walks by a carabao herd
      on lazy stream and hour;
a bread she carries for her grandmother;
      fairy tale is true after all. 

Where skill above risk builds confidence,
     takes the two to places they go;
What kinship master and pet do make, 
     heads turning to admire and to awe. 

Animae, triumph of art and technology,
     birth of many a queer specie(s);
biodiversity of imagination and fantasy,
    enigma of truth and reality.

King Kong, false image of the kind, 
     shy and the sublime animal,
misunderstood by evolution 
     for not being rational. 

A sled on to the moon,
     airplane and ship aboard;
a travelogue for kids
     to conquer the world.

Resurrection from Armageddon
     from poison and waste it hid,
this ba-ug frog a prodigal son 
     of man's folly and greed.

A new world bigger than their shell they greet,
     yet shrink and hide in it,
not when alone and happy, or abandoned
     but when failed to compete. 

A living factory works under our feet,
     its product glistens in the rising sun:
detritus for the garden and farm.
     Who really has the Green Thumb?