News and Views - Articles
Melodious, unique and personal, it was repeated several times and then went silent. I stopped to listen – I tried to regulate my breathing and focus on where the sound had come from. The bush paused with me – even the insects shut down – time held her breath just long enough for me to feel utterly isolated and alone – and then all life broke loose – unshackled and free. I who was to house that singing bird had no justifiable reason to want to. It was as though the bush had come to terms with the fact that I no longer wanted anything other than to be a part of her – and she new I was no longer a threat. Everything around me suddenly started talking to me, and I started to listen – but this is what I heard. You are the single most dangerous animal in the bush – we fear you – we defend ourselves against you – we no longer trust you. You are a predator, and you are prey – we never know which – you are inept and have a total disregard for our needs, yours always come first – you don’t understand yourself but profess to understand us – and you expect us to live our lives according to your rules – we know you will exterminate us if we frighten you, if we do not live by your rules, if we get in your way…Yet you cannot see in the dark, you can no longer communicate with us, individually you can no longer understand us and as a species you have lost all symbiosis with us – you have never been able to ensure our survival and you can no longer ensure the survival of yourselves. It was far from subliminal – a direct attack on my conscience being. I mumbled, “I think therefore I am.” Life laughed and then retorted, “It’s your ability to think that has landed all of us in this mess! We cannot, we are driven forward by our ability to breed successfully, and our need to survive, evolve and sustain ourselves depends entirely on our symbiosis with one another. We use our senses to hear, smell, taste, see and touch our future, and we record our lessons and store them in the genetic makeup of our young. When you came along – you forgot that you to were once a part of us, and you thought that you could change the very essence of life – you thought that you had become the masters of all, that you were untouchable and that your thoughts could protect your future. As you developed this ability to think – you created new worlds, new life, life after death and life off our world because you thought this one was no longer part of you – Yes, you certainly are what you think!” It was a simple song… Sweet scents of wild herbs and berries combined with the refreshing smell of water in the distance. The grasses and trees were opening up for business, a new day, a new life – I really felt a part of it, but I missed the warning – An impala barked near me – they were nervous – their was a flight intention amongst them, the ram nearest to me was staring at me, head held still – eyes scanning, ears rotating! “Don’t be frightened!” I shouted, “It’s only me, I understand you – I’m not a threat – I won’t harm you!” The impalas ran, kicking high into the air, snort barking and frantic. The lion hit me from less than two meters away – It broke my neck instantly – and after that all that was left of my life was the consummatory expression of a fully fed lion licking its bloody paws! Neil Heron
|
Conditions of trade : About us : Contact us : Home