Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
FIFTH – FLORID
I
Amid the sandy backcloth of suspect Corfu
Zoology concepts captured carefully nurtured
A lesson protecting life like the lovely cockatoo
Special pheasant endangered then saved
You are an acclaimed writer of distinction
Fascinating animal quests to your credit
A symbolic Dodo destined for lonely extinction
Complete a human selfishness with no merit
The existence of your much-needed innovation
Our quiet animals can never give you praise
Except a communicative force as small appreciation
With levels of mortality so slowly raised
Indeed, you did create a place of importance
In a world dictated by writhing ignorance
II
New discoveries like the rescue of an old sight
Imparts strong feelings to conserve survive
With death always surrounding us as the night
Depriving nature an importance which living thrives
Life for species today in their manacled sleep
As man’s fiddling onslaught quiet like a gun
To descend, frail except for the snoring deep
A contrast with the green blue beauty of Jersey sun
And a still, indifferently blind world is refusing
To acknowledge a park, you so carefully planned
And to such people the animals should be accusing
That stupidity to visit preserving zoos in any land
Who admire animal antics they find so very amusing?
As they dance and totter pathetically in the sands
GD Harrogate September 1973
FIFTH – FLORID
I
Amid the sandy backcloth of suspect Corfu
Zoology concepts captured carefully nurtured
A lesson protecting life like the lovely cockatoo
Special pheasant endangered then saved
You are an acclaimed writer of distinction
Fascinating animal quests to your credit
A symbolic Dodo destined for lonely extinction
Complete a human selfishness with no merit
The existence of your much-needed innovation
Our quiet animals can never give you praise
Except a communicative force as small appreciation
With levels of mortality so slowly raised
Indeed, you did create a place of importance
In a world dictated by writhing ignorance
II
New discoveries like the rescue of an old sight
Imparts strong feelings to conserve survive
With death always surrounding us as the night
Depriving nature an importance which living thrives
Life for species today in their manacled sleep
As man’s fiddling onslaught quiet like a gun
To descend, frail except for the snoring deep
A contrast with the green blue beauty of Jersey sun
And a still, indifferently blind world is refusing
To acknowledge a park, you so carefully planned
And to such people the animals should be accusing
That stupidity to visit preserving zoos in any land
Who admire animal antics they find so very amusing?
As they dance and totter pathetically in the sands
GD Harrogate September 1973
