A visual representation of "Survival" by Gillian Bickley
SHING Sin Yu
Pooi To Middle School
My drawing portrays a tree’s survival in a harsh environment. Although the friends of the tree have left, it is still standing there and protecting the city. This implies that it will continue to serve the city with dedication without succumbing to any challenges.
In my artwork, I used a cold tone like dark blue and grey to show how bad the environment is. I also used a drawing technique called shadow lining. I drew a few rays of sunlight using warm colours to show the hope and faith one should have in difficult situations. The tree can’t say anything but I believe it can feel. We should be grateful to the tree for its loyalty and appreciate its bravery for surviving in the changing city.
In these few years, our life may be as tough as that of the tree mentioned in the poem. Due to the pandemic, I believe all of us are worried, tired and sad. However, we should stay hopeful and uphold the belief that tomorrow will be a better day. I hope all of us can see the tree’s perseverance and be as strong as it. Lastly, I would like to thank the Environmental Protection Department for its constant effort in protecting the environment over the years.
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.