D.P. Welch: The Bulldozer Sits At The Ready

A song inspired by the sight of a backhoe poised menacingly on the meadow behind our school, glinting in the moonlight. Open land is disappearing in Massachusetts at nearly seven times the rate of population growth, as compliant Conservation Commissions rubber stamp an endless stream of development projects. Find more about this project and see how you can help: http://www.rule19.org/danielpwelch/0602sscx.htm Also see a related article on local activism: Think Global, Act Local. http://danielpwelch.com/0602tgal.htm

audio available at:

http://danielpwelch.com/songs/bulldozer-compressed.wav

The bulldozer sits at the ready
Waiting for "progress" to call
With strength to cut trees like spaghetti
A machine making fools of us all

But where will the red hawk swoop down for the kill
With no field mouse to hide in the clover
Why aren't some people content 'til they build
Until the whole world is paved over

The moon overhead is a marvel
It smiles in silent delight
A pity it shines on the backhoe
With its menacing claw in the night

So where will the red hawk swoop down for the kill
With no field mouse to hide in the clover
Why aren't some people content 'til they build
Until the whole world is paved over

The backhoe sits back on its haunches
Like a raptor awaiting its prey
Til the next human greediness launches
The feast on remains of the day

Tell me where will the red hawk swoop down for the kill
With no field mouse to hide in the clover
Why aren't some people content 'til they build
Until the whole world is paved over

© 2006 Daniel Patrick Welch. Reprint permission granted with credit and link to http://danielpwelch.com. Writer, singer, linguist and activist Daniel Patrick Welch lives and writes in Salem, Massachusetts, with his wife, Julia Nambalirwa-Lugudde. Together they run The Greenhouse School http://www.greenhouseschool.org, where children learn every day that hope springs eternal. Translations of articles are available in up to 20 languages. Links to the website are appreciated at danielpwelch.com.

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