A visual representation of "Survival" by Gillian Bickley
LO Hin Yui
Man Kwan QualiEd College
In response to the poem ‘Survival’, I created this drawing to express my views on the value and importance of nature to humans.
The main focus of this drawing is the tall tree which pierces the clouds.
The tree is surrounded by natural inhabitants like birds and butterflies and dazzling sunlight glints through its branches.
The perspective of the artwork makes the tree look grand and sacred.
In fact, this scene, which represents nature, is an image shown on a piece of paper.
The paper is being torn apart, symbolising the disappearance of the forest.
The ash-grey cityscape signifies the destruction of the city, which is the main culprit for the degradation of nature.
The human hands are drawn in black and white, representing the ruthlessness of the people.
Fortunately, the paper has yet to be completely shredded, symbolising that there is still hope in humanity.
This is because nowadays people are becoming more aware of the need to preserve nature to ensure our future.
Survival
Thank you trees for being there, for staying
when many of the friends you knew─
birds and butterflies ─ have gone;
for flourishing, even; growing old
where concrete buildings
are constantly knocked down.
How brave you are to survive
in a place where the air is foul
and the noise unnatural;
you who should normally expect
to stabilise your roots
in humid humming forests,
alive with the smells of
animal and vegetable life
(not the smells of mineral death, as here).
It is good to look down a street
and, amazed, to see you there,
solid and green and cool, uncompromised
by the advertising posters on your boles;
a promise
that, since there was a past,
there may quite possibly be a future too.
1982
Gillian Bickley
“Survival” was first published in For the Record and other Poems of Hong Kong by Gillian Bickley, p.25. Copyrights© 2003 by Proverse Hong Kong. Reprinted by permission of Proverse Hong Kong. Please approach Proverse Hong Kong by email (proverse@netvigator.com) for permission to use this poem or others in the collection.