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Archive - 2009
"sharpness like knife/ Shut in upon itself and do no harm/ hand of Love, soft and warm/ let us hear no sound of human strife"
"XXIV - Let the world's sharpness like a clasping knife"
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
(1806-1861)
Let the world's sharpness like a clasping knife
Shut in upon itself and do no harm
In this close hand of Love, now soft and warm,
And let us hear no sound of human strife
After the click of the shutting. Life to life--
I lean upon thee, Dear, without alarm,
And feel as safe as guarded by a charm
Against the stab of worldlings, who if rife
Are weak to injure. Very whitely still
The lilies of our lives may reassure
Their blossoms from their roots, accessible
Alone to heavenly dews that drop not fewer;
Growing straight, out of man's reach, on the hill.
God only, who made us rich, can make us poor.
What inspires a kiss? Love, victory, passion, religious devotion, sad farewell... What doesn't? Swine flu.
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Photos: Fleeing fr war, old man's makeshift home near mountains; vendor naps by bike full of crafts; overloaded trucks in water
Photos courtesy of National Geographic, Qureshi/Getty, and Flickr
Original Source: National Geographic and NY Daily News
Tribute to Verplanck Colvin, pioneer to protect Nature; David McClure: Forever Wild statute of 1885; & Wilderness Act of 1964...
(quote)
"Unless the region be preserved essentially in its present wilderness condition, the ruthless burning and destruction of the forest will slowly, year after year, creep onward… and vast areas of naked rock, arid sand, and gravel will alone remain to receive the bounty of the clouds and be unable to retain it." - Verplanck Colvin, pioneer in environmental protection. The ‘Forever Wild’ Amendment was proposed by David McClure. This visionary accomplishment was the inspiration for those who drafted the 1964 Wilderness Act establishing the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Choice for mankind sharing one planet - where to spend big? To make our only Earth greener, or grayer?
Original Source: GlobalSecurity.org and atomicarchive.com