I was going through the documents on my old computer and came across this piece of writing I once did for English. This was back in year 8, that is when I was 13…
*****
THE URBAN JUNGLE
What type of a name for a city is London? I still can’t believe my parents sent me here.
“David,” they said, “you’ll love it.” Well have I got news for them. I don’t love it, I don’t even like it. I love playing all summer with my friends over the great green grassy plains. But most of all, I love exploring the jungle. I knew the jungle really well. How am I supposed to get used to all this foul air? Tough luck you might say, I have 6 whole weeks to get used to it. 6 weeks!
Here I am in a flat with my cousin who does nothing but sit in front of the television which consumes most of his time. His room is littered with pizza boxes, coke cans lying around the bin and dirty socks, all adding to the distinct smell of the Logan‘s household.
“David,” Lee shouted between mouthfuls of fries, “Superman’s new film is on. Don’t you wanna watch it?”
“I don’t know about you, but I’m going out" I replied walking out and rolling my eyes.
Outside, the cold crisp morning air blew past me carrying with it leaves that rustled in its footsteps. All was quiet except for the sweet birdsong. I stood listening to the unexplainable beauty that God had created. But it wasn’t like the beauty you would find in the countryside. Suddenly my body stiffened. My eyes fell upon the tall buildings pumping dirty smoke into the virgin morning. Man was destroying the beauty which God had created, for nothing but to quench his own greed. The cars, the electricity guzzling lights on every shop front, and the filthy chimneys piercing the clean morning sky with their towering turrets. The jungle where I was from was different. The jungle was a labyrinth of dense forest and tangled vegetation. It was silent, except for the background murmur of little insects, buzzing and clicking. When the day began, you could hear the birds singing their hymns and the tigers come out and prowl through the vegetation looking for food.
A police car went by, prowling just like a tiger. It was hungry and saw what it wanted. Food. Having not eaten for days the chances of the prey getting away were slim. The blue lights came on. The siren began to howl. When the tiger comes out, the other animals move out of the way due to fear. In the same way, when any car heard the siren, they made way for the police car.
Then, a loud, polluting truck rambled by. I felt guilt. But more overwhelming was the feeling of anger. Man had made things that would destroy the beauty Mother Earth had to offer. What for? Greed, selfishness and money. As the birds flew away and the exhaust fumes made their way into my cold, red nose I looked around and pondered over the man made things around me. The technology, the transport, the buildings, everything. Yes it was wonderful. But when this same technology and advancement endangers the life of a fellow living species, it not wonderful at all. It would be better if this technology didn’t exist.
How difficult would it be telling your grandchildren what elephants looked like and why they were no longer there. Would it not be embarrassing to have to say the elephants were killed because man wanted to use its tusks to make rings and other ornaments? After a while the coolness of the morning settled my anger. I walked back home where I found Lee still sitting in front of the television. Maybe this box with moving pictures is not that bad after all. I had 6 weeks to spend in this place, why not make the most of the speaking box and foul air. Tough.
*****
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a tree hugger or anything but the state of the environment sometimes worries me. Here’s a documentary starring ex-president Al Gore, in which he highlights the issue of global warming:
Where do you stand on this whole issue? Is caring for the environment important? Or should we just live while we can, and enjoy it as much as we can?
_________________________________
Title: Black moon – Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Picture 1, showing elephants in a city taken from here
Picture 2, showing a polar bear on a retreating glacier taken from here
Posts
6 March 2011 at 23:03
Okay. I have to saay, this is by far your best piece. In terms of the style! you wrote this back in grade 8?! Lovely story man! and the whole issue on global warming...it scares everyone Ithink, and people do care but then again the fear that if you stand up for the trees you might lose your cellphone and other technical devices that we depend on so much now adays. :/
AWESOME POST!
yours truly x =]
6 March 2011 at 23:04
My friend,
A very enlightening and thoughtful post and I totally concur with what you have alluded too.
Caring for the environment is vitally important. Allow me to go one step further with this. We need to be 'environmentally friendly' not just with the balance of nature on this planet, but 'environmentally friendly', with each other.
Our legacy must be that we leave the planet, a greener, cleaner, more peaceful place, for the precious creatures and for our children.
May you have a most peaceful, positive week.
With respect and kind wishes, Gary :-)
6 March 2011 at 23:49
You wrote this when you were 13? *head desk* I feel like a failure! Nas I liked the story and to be honest I like the idea of an urban jungle rather than a real one. Although a real jungle can be breathtakingly beautiful I would probably have more of an adventure in a concrete jungle. Yeah my dad tried to get me to watch that movie by al gore. I passed then and I will pass now. Although my sister came to me yesterday and told me " If you ever come late to class and the teacher asks you why... blame it on global warming."
7 March 2011 at 02:57
Wow!! A truly wonderful post, Nas.. It's very honest.. and moving. And you wrote this when you were 13? Wow.
I feel more comfortable with nature than with technology. You see, I live in a farm. Yes, I have gadgets, phones.. techie stuff.. I appreciate those, but nothing beats relaxing.. sitting or lying on green grass, under the shade of a mango tree, with just the blue sky above and some farm animals in view. :)
As you know, I took a month-long vacation. Went to the city.. it was great. But damn, I could hardly spot a tree, a bird.. tall buildings lining up, smoke everywhere..
People. They don't like being blamed for something that they have done. Blame it all on the weather.. Blame it all on the 2012 predictions.. Blame it all on global warming. We are all guilty.. one way or another, we helped in making Mother Nature's grave. It's a sad fact..
But a single grain can tip the scale, right? A single person can change the world.. So let's leave something for our children. A legacy.. this planet. Earth. :)
P.S.
The line about the elephants.. I feel you. Made me sad...
7 March 2011 at 13:50
ah..You wrote this at 13...????
That's really v.prodigious.
7 March 2011 at 14:31
Jeez..in year 8? ..That's a well written piece, no wonder you've still got it =))
7 March 2011 at 15:53
WOW DUDE. You Are Talenteed. Capital and all, man you wrote this when you were 13? Mansha'allah.
i'm a tree hugger but not in action, haha I just don't know WHAT to do to help, of course I do small things like pick up the garbage from the pavement and YADAYADA it's not enough. caring for the environment is very important.
7 March 2011 at 20:05
I believe we all have a part to play yeah, but everything in moderation. If people lived by the philosophy of "MODERATION", we wouldn't have half the problems we do in this world.
Very well written btw :)
7 March 2011 at 21:30
Awesome post mann! The writing is wonderful! :)
I agree with a lot of the commentators above, I think we are aware of this environment issue and its present somewhere in the back of our heads and we do think about it at some odd godly hour but then like Yours Truly said its that fear. Which is very sad. I think if we all played our parts properly it would make a difference!
x
9 March 2011 at 14:14
@ Yours Truly: Thanks! I think you're right. But taking a stand for the environment doesn't mean we join the green party, and prevent people from using trains and cars etc. It can be the small things, that we unintentionally or lazily waste. After all, it's the raindrops that make a river.
:)
x
9 March 2011 at 14:15
@ klahanie: Your comments always amaze me. And I'm left nodding my head in agreement. Thank you for visiting again!
9 March 2011 at 14:17
@ рεяfεcтℓγ▪ιмpзяfзcт: Don't get me wrong, I'd not like to live in a jungle either. This was just an assignment and we had to write about a child was visiting from a jungle community type thing.
It was the point of the story that I was alluding to :P
9 March 2011 at 14:19
@ Leah: Yes, we are quick to blame others / things. But it is everyone's responsibility.
9 March 2011 at 14:19
@ Hamza Bin Ladin: Thanks!
9 March 2011 at 14:20
@ Roshni: Thank you :)
9 March 2011 at 14:21
@ normal.is.overrated.: Thanks! Yeah, there's a limit to how much we can do, but we should do that at least.
9 March 2011 at 14:23
@ Azra: You hit the nail on the head. Well said!
9 March 2011 at 14:25
@ Smiley: Thanks :). I guess you're right. But maybe its just our laziness and our indifference that we just can't be bothered to do anything.
10 March 2011 at 06:43
Everybody has already asked but I'll ask again, you wrote this when you were 13?! =P wow. This is a great piece of writing. Okay I cannot imagine life without technology and tall buildings.. but yes, some nice air and plants would be nice too.. Especially in Karachi where you cannot find anything that isn't tainted.
=)
10 March 2011 at 07:00
Global warming problem for many of the plants, animals, and people on islands. IT is something that we all have to take part in learning how to prevent...
10 March 2011 at 12:16
@ Sidrah: Yes I did and thanks. I wasn't trying to insinute we should we without them all together. But some conscious effort towards a better, healhtier living would be nice don't you think?
10 March 2011 at 12:17
@ Asma Khan: Thank you for visiting, and I agree with your comment!
:)
12 March 2011 at 16:46
That was a good piece. And by "good", I mean that it was truly exceptional for a 13-year-old.
Though I wish we actually did something for the environment. People find it rather taxing to throw a mere wrapper into a bin. At the end of the day, only a few handful of people truly care about what's happening to Mother Nature.
14 March 2011 at 17:53
@ Tazeen: Thanks Tazeen! And you're right, even the simplest of things seem so difficult for some people.
Thank you for visiting!
:)