1958 Geloof en Wetenschap : Orgaan van de Christelijke vereeniging van natuur- en geneeskundigen in Nederland - pagina 115

91

WAAROM NATUURBESCHERMING?

THE FORESTS'S GIFTS The yellow fields are waiting To yield their golden store O'er seeming endless acres The grain is ripe once more. The little children follow The reapers on their way; „We've bread enough for ever, Forever and a day!"

„A million million acres Of columned forests rose Where now a scanty harvest Or scantier pasture grows. My heritage is wasted And now I pay the price — My little children gather Dry weeds to cook their rice!"

Their childish vision sees not — To them the store's great — The daily, daily dwindling Must end it soon or late. But gray haired elders, wiser, Glance each at each and smile : „'t Is barely for a twelve-month. But for a little while".

In northern seas Britannia Longs for her vanished trees, That carried British sailors Throughout the seven seas.

E'en so the younger Peoples (Earth's Littlest Children they) Amid God's boundless forests Dream not they'll fail some day, „The store is so unending, The daily need so small. It surely is sufficient Forever for us aU". But hark! From o'er the waters. From East and West and North, From all Earth's Eldest Daughters The warning cry goes forth : ,0 listen. Little Sisters, Waste not your forest store. We too had groves as towering — They were — and are no more!" Hear Lebanon's ancient mountain. By Hiram's log-trails seamed V/hen Solomon was building His temple, ceder-beamed. „For ships and temples gave I My choicest tree by tree. And thought my giant cedars Exhaustless as the sea. A few score hoary veterans Now clothe my age-gray rocks And barely serve to shelter Some shepherd with his flocks". And China, grayer, older By centuries a score, Her wasted wealth is mourning That was — and is no more.

„The gifts my forests gave me I used, nor saved the seed. A thousand ships now bring me The forest gifts I need. A hunderd thousand sailors From foreign shores bring back. To house my shivering children. The forest gifts I lack". And so the plaint goes ever — Germania, Austria, France, Helvetia and Hispania Mourn their inheritance. ,,Our gifts of God we wasted And bitter is the costs — Our sons in foreign regions Must seek what we have lost. Our youngest, richest Sister, 'Mong the giants of the Earth, E'en proud Columbia feareth The coming of the dearth". „So listen, little Sisters, Guard well your precious store, We too had treasures boundless •— They were — and are no more!" The little children follow The reapers on their way : .,We've bread enough for ever, Forever and a day!" But gray-haired elders, wiser. Glance each at each and smile : „'t Is barely for a twelve-month. But for a little while".

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