Po lar Exhibit

Sarah Jane Conklin

When No Birds Sang
8x10 mixed media piece. The oil painted image is that of a weakened and silent forest.
Attached is a poem of hope written on a piece of fallen birch bark.
The poem is written from a futuristic point of view. It refers to a time when global
warming had adversely affected our Canadian landscape and wildlife. It comments on
how our Canadian Government had let us down (the Maple Leaf wilts) by its inaction on
this global catastrophe.
A definitive indication on how global warming has had a negative impact on our forests,
is in the silencing of our tiniest and most vulnerable wildlife, including our birds.
However, there is hope. It was through the pain and devastation that people made a
conscience effort to save the planet. The voices of hope returned as the birds sang
again.

When No birds Sang, Came Voices of Hope
Look back to our future,
Our maple leaf wilts,
The woodlands would hang,
Time when no birds sang,
In Canada.
In shadows of darkness,
Were voices of hope.
From life’s and limb’s pang,
Came time when birds sang,
In Canada.