lesleyscoble

Good Evening News: the lyrebird and the chainsaw; a prose poem

The W3 Weekly Poetry Prompt is hosted this week by Poet of the Week Selma Martin. 

Selma’s rules and prompt guidelines
•Format your ‘prose poem’ like breaking news;
•Give it a bold attractive title; 
•A beginning/middle/end;
•Make it a Good News account of something that will benefit us all. Use strong, positive VERBS;
•Add enough detail to make it believable/relieve us of some stress;
•Not short, but not too long;

No pressure then. Hmmm, I’m not sure how to approach this prompt. To write a prose poem like news reportage? Sounds difficult to me. I’ll have a go though.

Good Evening News

Good Evening News | Newspaper mock-up: Lesley Scoble

The Lyrebird and the Chainsaw

The story that saved the rainforests
by our columnist Lesley Scoble
an historic announcement: the Leaders of World Governments sign the Lyrebird Treaty.

They have confirmed today that the world’s starvation crisis has ended. The treaty agrees to ban deforestation. This incredible news comes after decades of tireless efforts to replenish the world’s rainforests. Rainforests are crucial to the health of the planet and ensure global food security. Deforestation is against the law. The chainsaw law bans the cutting down of trees.

The Lyrebird Treaty
The Lyrebird Treaty, named after the famous bird that drew the world’s attention to the plight of nature overwhelmed by man’s destructive and inexorable advance into the wild. His song of lament to the tune of a chainsaw cutting down his habitat was an indictment. His voice strung on chords that awoke nations worldwide, to the malignant cancer of the verdant lung. Without rainforests, our planet cannot breathe.
A ban is also placed on insecticides. To feed the world, pollinators need protection.
A second motion to ban *artificial grass, plants, and plastic hedges is in progress.

THE LYREBIRD
& THE CHAINSAW

The lyrebird lives in the forest of rain. Under a tall hardwood tree, he repeats a call again and again. 
In wonder, it is the call of the chainsaw chain.
The chorus of his song mimics the rustling of leaves and the snap of wooden limbs of trees. 
They’re closing in. 
With a sawing, gnawing, severing din. 
Beneath the soft canopy
in the shade of a tree,
the lyrebird doesn’t know, 
no trees will grow.
Not here anyway, 
not at home.
The chainsaw will come.
The ancient forest clears.
Loud and louder it nears.
A shroud of noise.
He hears 
the chainsaw call.
He hears it all.
Irrevocable.
Encroachment
without reproachment.
A torment of sound the size of another football ground.
Across the land, across terrain, it creeps.
His mimicry is a memory.

He sleeps.

Breaking news: A plastic-eating amoeba discovered

An amoeba that can tackle plastic and turn it into a fertiliser has gained approval for use by the Agency for Global Environment (AGE).
In recent trials, they proved the amoebae can absorb an acre plot of *artificial grass in a matter of days. It leaves the ground with a rich mulch. To allow the earth to breathe and become fertile again.

This remarkable micro-organism was discovered by Professor Bakalite, Oxford University.

Lesley Scoble. March 2023

They signed this momentous Lyrebird treaty today in a tumultuous mood of euphoria and hope.
Acknowledgements
My thanks to Selma for this tricky challenge. Thanks as always to David, W3 Weekly Poetry Prompt

Image credits
Photo of newspaper stand and newspaper mock-up | Lesley Scoble
The Lyrebird and the Chainsaw | AI generated illustration by DALL-E 

Notes
The Agency for the Global Environment (AGE) and the Professor Clara Bakalite are a figment of my imagination. 

I hope that in the future, all the conservation reports featured in my mock newspaper GOOD EVENING NEWS — 

Saving the rainforests;
Protection of insects;
Elimination of plastic pollution;

Will one day move from the realm of fiction into reality.

16 comments

  2. The Lyrebird and the Chainsaw
    THE STORY THAT SAVED THE RAINFORESTS
    Lesley Scoble reports
    Impressive, is what you are, Lesley. And you went the distance for us. Goodness! A splendid approach to the prompt. You certainly raised the bar. Certainly worthy of good news reporting and you introduced us (me) to a fantastic creature. What a lovely little bird with a good set of vocal cords. I watched the video and was enraptured by everything. AND what’s most alluring is that the little creature saved the rain forest and the millions of little creatures who make their home there. A real hero! “the world’s starvation crisis has ended. The treaty agrees to ban deforestation. This incredible news comes after decades of tireless efforts to replenish the world’s rainforests. Rainforests are crucial to the health of the planet and ensure global food security. Deforestation is against the law.”

    “ban is also placed on insecticides. To feed the world, pollinators need protection. 
A second motion to ban *artificial grass, plants, and plastic hedges is in progress.”

    You covered lots of ground. And I already feel my lungs expand with good air in the very near future with the signing of this treaty. I can see clearly too. The world is safe and Mother Earth can finally start healing. Kudos to you. Everyone reading this will undoubtedly be relieved of stress and feel themselves float in a tumultuous mood of euphoria and hope.

    Your deftness and power of imagination are outstanding.
    “Will one day move from the realm of fiction into reality.” — May this be so! Amen.
    Thanks for participating. Blessings. I wish you Miracles.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Wow! Thank you, Selma, for this amazing critique. I am chuffed by what you say. 💗🙏 You are so kind. I appreciate your review so much.
      I thank you for the inspiring prompt. I first thought I couldn’t do it!
      The idea for the poem (if you can call it that?) is a memory from seeing the Attenborough programme on the Lyre Bird from years ago. It affected me then, as it still does today.
      Thank you so much for your precious time reading it 🌹
      Lesley

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. I love this – what clever formatting you have used for the post. I like your story of the lyrebird and am guessing you are an Aussie like me. I’ve heard lyrebirds make sounds like the ones you describe but that was a while ago when I lived in the forest. They do make songs that sound like the destruction of the forest though, I agree. A Lyrebird treaty to end rainforest destruction sounds like one of the best ideas I’ve heard in a while.
    Your idea about the plastic eating amoeba is as far fetched as it sounds. I’ve heard that something like is currently being developed. I’m a bit hazy as to the details but think it is a real thing. Some kind of genetic mutation scientists are experimenting with I think.
    I enjoyed reading your post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • G’day, Suzanne!
      I could’ve been an Aussie! My parents considered emigrating when I was a child. I’m afraid to say I’m a Londoner.
      They’ve already discovered the plastic-eating amoeba then? That’s brilliant! Typical! Science steals my ideas again. 😂
      I wish the saving of the rainforest was true.
      After the catastrophic bush fires, I hope the lyrebird numbers are recovering?
      Thank you so much for your lovely comment.🌹

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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