BiodiVersitY

It is lamentable, truly lamentable that the state of social forces result in a general disease of public apathy, public and political inertia and ignorance. I am constantly, repeatedly reminded how different I am when it comes to priorities. I remember chancing upon a book on endangered species in North America in a dusty library in Toa Payoh. I was enthralled by the beautiful sketches of exotic species, each species drawn ideally in its natural habitat, in all its majesty and dignity at risk of anthropomorphizing these animals. Most importantly, numbers were strewn about the page. Worrying ones. I borrowed the book, and started making note

Move him into the sun - Gently its touch awoke him once, At home, whispering of fields unsown. Always it woke him, even in France, Until this morning and this snow. If anything might rouse him now The kind old sun will know. Think how it wakes the seeds, - Woke, once, the clays of a cold star. Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides, Full-nerved, - still warm, - too hard to stir? Was it for this the clay grew tall? - O what made fatuous sunbeams toil To break earth's sleep at all? -Wilfred Owen

Everyone suddenly burst out singing; And I was filled with such delight As prisoned birds must find in freedom, winging wildly across the white Orchards and dark-green fields; on- on- and out of sight. Everyone's voice was suddenly lifted; And beauty came like the setting sun: My heart was shaken with tears; and horror Drifted away... O, but Everyone Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done. -Siegfried Sassoon