Amir Murtaza
Amir Murtaza is a Karachi-based Consultant and Writer. He is author of a poetry book “The Last Clouds”, containing 50 poems. This is a free verse poetry book which is all about climate change, climate crises, global warming and environmental degradation and how the phenomenon is posing threats to the existence of mankind. The book was published by Royal Publishing House Karachi in 2022.
Save the earth for children
From the balcony of my condo
Every morning
I see children going to school.
Seeing their grinning faces
I feel extremely cheerful
In any case, I’m stressed over their future.
Environmental change and rising global temperatures
It bothers me continually
These kids belong to our future generations
What sort of world would we say we are leaving for them?
I’m not sure
Either they will be able to
Enjoy the gifts of Mother Nature
Which we have seen in our lives.
We all have to work together
People, politicians, government and business
Also, spare the earth
For our children.
***
Gardens and Butterflies
Right from his childhood
He always loved to run after butterflies
Flying in the garden
Sitting on flowers.
The shiny colors of butterflies
Attracted him so much
Once he caught a butterfly
Her colors spread over his figures
He tried to clean his hands
And stopped chasing the butterflies.
Now, he plays with colors
And paint the butterflies
Displays them on the walls.
The time have changed
His painted butterflies are so fresh
But the gardens and butterflies are not any where
You just find the crows cawing.
***
Migratory Birds
Every year in the winter
Migratory birds from Siberia
Visit the wetlands of Sindh
After flying thousands of miles.
This migration is so hard
They leave their homes
Come to see the beauty of Sindh
Enjoy the beautiful weather.
Seeing and listening to these beautiful birds
Is a beautiful experience.
I’m happy to see them from a far distance
When you approach them, they are afraid.
These migratory birds
They are our guests
Don’t disturb them
Let them enjoy their time.
Hunting them is strictly forbidden
Don’t support their hunting.
***
Deforestation
I was born here on this earth
Grew up with my kin and friends
We live here with various species
A few of us are same
Some are totally different.
We are largely companions
We help each other
Our existence is important for one another
And, for the ecosystem too.
We are necessary for the survival of human beings on earth
Still he has become our foe.
These people consistently come here
In huge vehicles
Bring heavy machines.
They have begun cutting my siblings
What’s more, companions
One day me as well
We cut into pieces
The green forest is gone.
***
Don’t Use Plastic Bags
We should save our land
We should save Mother Nature
We must save it today
Else, it will be past the point of no return.
We have to tell our children
Who are our future!
Global warming is crushing the earth
Rising temperature can slaughter the plants and animals.
To control the temperature of the earth
We have to teach our children
Don’t use plastic bags.
Plastic bags are really handy
But they are polluting our environment.
***
Environmental Change and Migration
Environmental change is driving
A large number of our villagers
Those living in desert regions.
To leave their homes
To leave the land
Where they have been living for hundreds of years
Their ancestors are buried in this land.
The impacts of dry weather
Are growing
They don’t have anything to feed their animals
Grass, plants and trees are gone.
The goats are weak now
Not even a drop of milk left in their teats.
There is just one way left
To survive
Head off to some other place
With their children and animals.
***
White Rhino
Going to the mountains and forests
Standing by the sea, waterways and lakes
I felt happy to see the beauty of nature.
I still go for walk every day
Miles and miles
The city roads are getting wider and wider
But, no pavements for the pedestrians.
The smoke has risen in the cities
Old gardens and playgrounds have turned into shopping malls
The forests are also gone.
It seems the wild animals have gone somewhere
If you see white rhino in the forest
So tell me, I want to see him
In the open forests and fields
Not in any captivity breeding program or in a small zoo cage.
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