A FORMER Ryde businessman has written a poem so emotive he received responses from the likes of Sir David Attenborough and The Queen.
Peter Woodnutt, of Ryde, penned poem Saving Gaia back in September, 2021.
He sent his poem to a number of famous faces, and among those to respond was Sir David Attenborough, Prince Charles, Prince William and The Queen.
Scroll down to read Peter's poem...
Sir David was the first to write back to Peter, inside three days, and his response was handwritten.
Registered blind and dyslexic, Peter has been supported by charity, Sight for Wight, for a number of years.
He started losing his eyesight when he was around 60 years old, and it meant he had to drop his favourite hobby.
"I'd been doing photography all my life," said Peter.
"But as my macular degeneration got worse, it was getting harder and harder, and eventually I gave up."
The 81-year-old ran Woodnutt’s in Union Street, Ryde, until 2007, at which time he retired and went to look after his sister in Seaview.
"My sister was suffering with terrible Sciatica, and was bed-ridden for three weeks," said Peter.
"She was looking after her husband, who had Parkinsons. I dropped everything and went to Seaview to basically look after her. She got better, but what started as three weeks ended up as five years, and my sister had a computer which she didn't use."
He said: "I never had a computer before — never had one in the shop, never needed it. I started writing a few bits and pieces and that's how it started.
"I used to pen things before, but never seriously, because I'm dyslexic. Thank god for spell checker! When I was young, dyslexia wasn't recognised.
"But I've always been empathetic, and I dig deep for some of the poems that come out.
"Getting a handwritten response from Sir David Attenborough was a very nice touch.
"People don't realise, we have a ten-year window to get this somewhere right.
"After that, it will be irreversible; global warming."
Peter has gone on to pen more than 60 poems in the last ten years, and plans to release a poetry book.
His poem, Silent Love, also features in the recently published book, Out On An Island, which explores the Isle of Wight's hidden LGBTQ+ history.
The book features real-life stories from 17 LGBTQ+ people who shared honest and intimate accounts.
Read more: New book will uncover the Isle of Wight’s hidden LGBTQ+ history
Saving Gaia
Ignorance, a blissful complacency,
Would man ignore every warning?
As through his use of fossil fuels,
He has escalated global warming.
Each voice of a doubting Thomas,
Claimed out predictions were lies.
Natural disasters are acts of God,
Experts ascribing them otherwise.
Irrefutable, global evidence proof,
The ocean's temperature is rising.
Power up more severe hurricanes,
Each glacier worldwide is melting.
Lightning will ignite the dry forest,
Shall decimate vast areas of land.
To release Co2 to our atmosphere,
So were CFCs long since banned.
The fossil fuels generating power,
Would be phased out one by one.
We'll use the wind or solar energy,
For national grid power from the sun.
Nations must heed every warning,
In ten year's time it will be too late.
If our climate grows more hostile,
It could force mankind to relocate.
Gaia, a sapphire hanging in space,
Man sort her jewels down a mine.
Ethics must govern all that we do,
For Gaia is in our care for all time.
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