The Rule of Nature – Words To Live By
Someone wise once said to me
What knowledge do you have of trees?
Can you tell me why the grass is green?
How do clouds know where to be?
Or how much sunlight do things need?
I paused and thought quite stoically
Who has answers on things like these?
Can I find them in a breeze?
Will it take a science course?
Or a country ride upon a horse?
Questions, questions, with little hope
Nature’s rules seem beyond my scope
Can’t find answers in my horoscope
No divination or spiritual solution
Perhaps read up on evolution
The wise one watched with staring eyes
Observing me ponder so uncomfortable
My appearance obviously vulnerable
As if answers were beyond my grasp
A vision that I couldn’t clasp
Close your eyes and let your thoughts sync
Rivers flow yet they never drink
Beautiful flowers don’t take time to think
Apple trees don’t eat their fruit
Osha plants can’t see their roots
Think of nature as a wonderful show
Sun above shines light below
Leaves will turn and grasses bow
Nutrients trapped in the water flows
Feeding life to green meadows
Don’t open things with your human key
My smile revealed that I started to see
Everything around was free
Sharing was the common thread
Life for all, or all for dead
The Rule of Nature, or as it’s known
Nothing lives just for its own
It takes a system for forests to grow
Perfect balance and harmony
Mother Nature does it artfully
Eyes now opened and no more frown
Once again I looked around
Every movement and every sound
Rustling leaves on a summer’s breeze
Flowers opening for the bees
Do humans fit? Is it our turn?
The wise one spoke in simple terms
“Perfectly, but only if we learn”
Preserve the water and keep it clean
Not a single drop of toxic Fluorine
He turned his eyes, with a gentle sigh
Do not pollute the air and sky
There’s no reason to justify
Chemical trails with many pollutants
Keep it up and we’ll all be mutants
Lastly think of the forest trees
Only cut down what you need
Let the rest grow and seed
Plant another and plant some more
Every space up to the shore
Teach these things for goodness sake
Make them aware of what’s at stake
Rouse their consciousness till it’s awake
What’s on this earth won’t last forever
It’s up to us to make it better
More From R. J. Schwartz
- When We Lost Control - October 13, 2025
- The Crumbling Space Around Me - October 10, 2025
- Sorrow - October 9, 2025

I love this poem and its wonderful ecological message, Ralph. Enjoyable to read with a steady flow as well.
What a joy to read this poem Ralph. Great message and your rhyme and rhythm is spot on. Thank you for sharing. Jamie
Your poem sure gives us a lot to ponder on, Ralph. Nature is in perfect balance and harmony – each individual plant all connected to the one system, part of the whole, just as we are. Wonderful message and excellently penned. I love it !