doogiewray ([info]doogiewray) wrote,
@ 2007-07-26 05:51:00
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Entry tags:all souls, environment, poetry

Dick Goodwin
Another friend has died. Richard Goodwin, 1910 - 2007. Noted environmentalist, botanist and philanthroper. His obituary and picture were published in the New York Times, the LA Times, the Boston Globe and many, many others.



I remember his kindness, his thoughtfulness, his carefully chosen words, his passion and his generosity. For several summers, a friend and I organized an annual poetry reading, where folks just came together and read their favorite poems. Dick was always there, enthusiastically reading, not only some of the classics, but a few of his own poems from years ago.

His book, A Botanist's Window on the Twentieth Century is a jewel and a delight to read.

As is said too infrequently, "they threw away the mold when Dick was born."

Memorial service is this Saturday, July 28th, at All Souls Unitarian Universalist in New London, CT. Some of us in the choir will be singing John Rutter's For the Beauty of the Earth.

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Poem for Dick
[info]doogiewray
2007-07-28 07:18 pm UTC (link)
I was asked to read the opening poem at Dick's beautiful memorial service this morning. It was a poem with which he ended his aforementioned autobiography - The Earth Is Ours by Robert J. Lurtsema (Morning Pro Musica host that Dick and Esther listened to religiously).

In Dick's book, he introduced the poem with the words: "What I have done in this life has not been motivated by an effort to save myself from unpleasant experiences in the next, but rather, at least in part, by a desire to preserve the beauty and biological integrity of the earth we have inherited." Later, of this poem, he states that "it is a lovely blueprint for action." Though Robert J. rhymes are more like those of Ogden Nash than of Robert Frost (I had a hard time trying to keep from snickering at some points), his poem was one of Dick's favorites.

The Earth is Ours
Robert J. Lurtsema

In an outer arm of the galaxy
safe from harm,
save for you and me,
a gem-like sphere
of blue and white
shines bright and clear
in space black night,
spins ‘round the sun
that gave it birth,
the marbled one
our home - the Earth.

From ground and granite
it takes its name
this water planet
with heart of flame
its soul ablaze.
We raise our voice
in song of praise
as we rejoice
in our land of dreams
with lakes and seas
and hills and streams
with rocks and trees
and grass and flowers
and clean fresh air.

The Earth is ours,
but just to share
with wolf and whale
and hunting fox
and garden snail
and geese in flocks
with moray eels
and dragon flies
and baby seals
with soft wet eyes
with birds and bees
and stalking cat
algae and fleas
and water rat
with nesting hen
and busy ant
and canyon wren
and elephant
with eagle, frog
and nursing sow
gorilla, dog
giraffe and cow
with lion, loon
and sharks and minks
the masked raccoon
the snake, the lynx
with bulls and bears
with hound and hare.
The Earth is theirs
as well to share.

Along with leaf
and bud and plants
we are but brief
inhabitants
dependent all
on Earth – our mother
and, great & small,
on one another.

From single cell
to humankind
we must use well
all that we find,
for Earth is still
a finite source.

We have the will
To set the course
To share, each day,
With all our kin
That “fullness”
for “they that dwell therein”
and heed the call
of love and peace
as if we’d all
co-signed a lease
for sun and showers
and food and air.

The Earth is ours,
but just to share.

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