Comment from bard owl

Excellent

We should have a Lock the Gate movement in North America as well. The "fat cat" politicians' only care is for money that is in something for them. Never mind who it hurts and/or destroys. Fracking is absolutely ridiculous and should be outlawed all over the world. This is a very timely write and one everyone should read. Excellent!
Blessings to you,
Linda

 Comment Written 30-Oct-2015

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reply by the author on 30-Oct-2015

Thanks again, Linda, for the great review. As evil as the practice is, it isn't as evil as the way these money-hungry parasites can acquire people's land at a fraction of its value, with the owner having no say in the matter whatsoever. I remember seeing movies where railroad companies in the US adopted identical practices with gold miners and farmers. I think this is probably what led to the expression "railroaded". Thanks for the support :)
Craig.

Comment from --Turtle.

Excellent

Hi, Craig,

I read through this commentary poem on the fracking industry and the awareness it brings in support towards lock the gat. The topic commentated on defies so many, why's... It's hard for me to find the right words on what I want to say is defied, but the outrage this poem encompasses, the frustration with this dark aspect of the human condition that causes so much chain-reaction harm from a sheltered... 'owed'? . I'm not even sure what the rational is. I recognize that most people don't go to bed thinking, 'what I'm doing is wrong', but I don't get the rational of how destroying others is glossened over such that so much destruction is embraced.


Sorry, I think I'm losing coherency.

I think the way you utilized the format of this poem by hitting top priority words, cattle/ grain/ farmers/ earth... families (all of these top priority concepts flow into family, into harmony of life, of livelihood)

Then after the priority image is given, all of which carry a weight of good in their definition, the supporting lines then emotionally tear and destroy at those images, and the frustration and grief start to become clear and tangible)

repetition of certain words, primarily 'poison' 'fat' and 'broken' does a solid job of striking at engraving frustration and outrage into the readers mind, as the reader is susceptible for these emotions to resonate, and the frustration and anger leads to a desire for action,... which really ties into planting the supporting seed of that action in the end line, a galvanizing seed.

while fat cat(fat-cat)? bureaucrats
(Not sure... I've seen it both ways.)

 Comment Written 28-Oct-2015

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reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015

Thanks Turtle :) I don't get how people can be so oblivious to how they destroy the lives of others to line their own pockets either. As always, the fact that you have taken the time to understand the point being made is much appreciated. Craig.

Comment from ciliverde

Excellent

Bravo!!! I could not agree more! I hate to see what has happened to the world, with the fracking (UGH), the factory farms packed with suffering animals, the excess use of coal and oil instead of solar power...the fat cats who "don't believe" in global warning.
Your stanza "a toxic cocktail/ of tyranny and deceit/ brewed by those whose greed
knows no bounds" is most apt.
I love the sounds of your family, including the female human, alpacas, sheep, etc. We only have 3 dogs (so far!!)
Carol

 Comment Written 28-Oct-2015

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reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015

Thanks Carol :) We love our menagerie - no doubt you do as well. It's not how many there are in it that counts. Aussie cattle dogs is a good choice, but I'm biased of course. Are they all red, or do you have some blue heelers?

reply by ciliverde on 29-Oct-2015

I used to have two red females (RIP) but now I have two males, one all blue, the other white with blue and tan spots. My girl is a blue and tan heeler. I keep telling my hubby we need to get a couple of Pygmy goats, a mini donkey and chickens but he does not agree :/

Comment from I am Cat

Excellent

Whoa,
yeah, no satire here. this is hard hitting and full of raw emotion.
well stated from an emotion edge and full of passionate feelings.
the reader feels it all as it is clearly visible... a red stain created
right down the center of it. well done with getting it out there.

I only have one problem with it... I don't care for the use of the 'f' word and cat side by side :(
*sniff sniff*
I'm going to skip dinner now.
why does it always have to be the cat? why can't they use the dog sometime?
:(

well done, Craig... (a Virtual Six) clean out again, dammit
Cat

 Comment Written 28-Oct-2015

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reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015

LOL Cat - I'm sorry, I seem to have made a BIG error there. A rather LARGE blunder on my part. Might even say a MAMMOTH mistake. In case you forget, I know that FAT and this particular Cat don't belong in the same sentence.

Muchos gracias,
Craig.

Comment from ellie6

Excellent

This is so true. nobody really knows the hidden cost of raping the earth for profit. I suspect it will be the next generation who will have to pay the price.

 Comment Written 28-Oct-2015

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reply by the author on 28-Oct-2015

We are already paying a huge cost in terms of visual and environmental pollution, and the destruction of families, but I suspect you are right Ellie - the next generation will suffer worse. Thanks for the review. Craig.

Comment from MacMhuirich

Excellent

This is a well put message my friend, and this verse sums it up for me:-
a toxic cocktail
of tyranny and deceit
brewed by those
whose greed
knows no bounds
It's always the fat cats that get fatter, they stuff more fat where their conscience used to be. Thank you for sharing.
Bless you
John

 Comment Written 28-Oct-2015

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reply by the author on 28-Oct-2015

Thanks, John, for the kind words. They're much appreciated. Craig.

Comment from Sambangi

Excellent

Hello friend,
This poem is a tribute to those farmers who committed suicide. Suicide deaths of farmers are happening in many parts of the world just because of callousness of bureaucrats and government policies. I liked how you raised your voice on them in the following lines
"a toxic cocktail
of tyranny and deceit
brewed by those
whose greed
knows no bounds"
Wonderful

 Comment Written 28-Oct-2015

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reply by the author on 28-Oct-2015

Thanks, Sambangi, for the kind review. The treatment of landowners by these greedy corporations and the governments that support them is indeed a disgrace. Much appreciated - Craig.

Comment from Michaelk

Excellent

There's something similar going on here in Pennsylvania. I don't know if you've ever heard of 'Fracking' but it's causing a lot of the same kinds of problems.
There needs to be a way for an environmental group to fight such things.
Hopefully, 'Lock the gate' can do something in your country. The EPA doesn't do much in ours.
Well written prom.

 Comment Written 27-Oct-2015

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reply by the author on 27-Oct-2015

Hi Michael,
We have an EPA here too, and they do nothing except rubber stamp anything the mining companies choose to do, basically. It's called "fracking" down under as well (hence the title). I spent a few months in PA nearly 20 years ago, and heard about the underground fires, which if I'm not mistaken, fracking had a bit to do with? Thanks for the positive review :)
Craig.

Comment from Eric1

Excellent

Hi Craig, this is a brilliant piece of free verse poetry about the self destruction of your country, we too have been lied to by this corrupt lot that supposedly leads us, they are allowing fracking after saying that they wouldn't!

 Comment Written 27-Oct-2015

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reply by the author on 27-Oct-2015

Hi Eric,
Thanks for your generous comments on my poem. Free verse is not something I've tried much before, but I thought the subject matter was best addressed that way - I'm not sure it would have the same gravity if it rhymed.

I'm sorry your country has chosen to go down the same path... it's a criminal destruction of the environment in my opinion. All the best, Craig.

reply by Eric1 on 27-Oct-2015

You are very welcome my friend.