The Lorax Redux

“The Lorax” is a much-loved children’s tale by Dr. Seuss. It is also considered by many an environmental primer, much-read in schools and at bedtimes around the world.

In the story, the forest home of the Lorax is threatened by a greedy entrepreneur named the Once-ler. The Once-ler sets up a manufacturing business to turn the forest’s fluffy Truffula Trees into knitted garments called “Thneeds.” As his business rapidly expands it becomes more and more destructive, until the last Truffula Tree is felled. The once-rich forest is left abandoned, in ruins.

On the book’s final pages, the Once-ler reveals that he has one remaining Truffula Tree seed, which he deposits into the hands of a small boy. Plant a seed, the book seems to urge, and save the planet.

Last week in my environmental politics course, we wondered, is planting a tree the height of our political creativity? Or are there other actions that should also be taken by those concerned with fostering ecological wellbeing? How would the story continue if the Once-ler were to consider the sources of REAL political change?

Here, in true Dr. Seuss fashion, is the addendum to the book that my class came up with:

THE LORAX REDUX

After tossing the seed, the Once-ler looked down
And was surprised to see the boy wearing a frown
What are you waiting for? The Once-ler said
If you wait any longer, the seed might be dead!

But the boy kept frowning, his eyes pleading for help
“Mr. Once-ler, I can’t do this by myself.”
The seed I can plant, but what of the dirt?
If it is not healthy, this tree will be hurt
And what if the clouds don’t ever bring rain
If there is no water, this tree will feel pain
And if I bring water, what if it's bad?



With poisons or smog, it will make the tree sad
And what if the temperature gets to be hot?
If there is no shade, grow, this tree will not
What about other people who want to make thneeds?
From them, how can I possibly protect this seed?

So, Mr. Once-ler, as you can see
This is surely too big a task for only just me
“Good luck,” said the Once-ler, as he sat alone in his chair.
“Good luck getting so many people to care.
People like to buy things, and make their bank accounts grow.
Making changes like yours would deal them a huge blow.
You should relax, just be patient and wait,
Until the newest technology can determine our fate.
The system’s not broken, it’s working just fine.
All our problems can be fixed with just a little more time.”
But “hey” said the kid thinking real quick
“You speak of fresh water and clean smelling air
But all that is here is glumpled gross water and smoggilous smoke
Thinking I can grow this tree is nothing more than a joke!”

The Once-ler was taken aback
“I gave you the seed what more do you need?”
Well, I’ll show you, the boy said with a grin
I know of some others I can get to join in

The boy now knew he could not act alone
so he picked up his seed and marched on home
“Mom! Have you heard of the Truffula trees?”
“No,” she said, “explain it to me please.”
So he told her the tale
of the Once-ler and his greed
and they picked up his pail
and knew just what to do with the seed.
With his Mom at his side, the boy yelled “Dad! Dad!
I know why the Once-ler is sad!
The trees are all gone and they aren’t coming back
Unless we call the for the big guys to act.”

“But, son, son, don’t make a fuss;
this problem is much bigger than all three of us.”
“So let’s call all our neighbors, friends, and even our aunts
Let’s come together and all take a stance
to bring back the animals, fresh air, and plants
Let’s march down and talk to the guys in suits
and have them bring back all the cute Barbaloots
Let’s have our congressman pass some bills
to clean up the water that gums the Hummingfish gills.

And once we do this, we can’t stop there,
problems will just get worse, it will be too much to bear.
Let’s implement policies before it’s to late,
Let’s take control and decide a better fate
“That’s wonderful, son, now go out and act
for there is only one true unmistakable fact
that this planet we live on is all that we’ve got
for the others are too rocky or gaseous or hot
and those big guys in suits don’t quite understand
that more than their term in office is at hand
for the water and air are rocks are one sum
the only difference is hydrocarbons, silicates and aluminum
and if they disappear then we will too
and the big guys in suits will have nothing to do
for if not for the hummingfish and barbaloot breeds
then what is the point of a bright colored thneed?
this is something that must be addressed by the guys on top
for alone this destruction of the planet we can’t stop
And the boy nodded as his father patted him on the head
“maybe I’ll start tomorrow since it’s time for bed”
his father agreed and quietly said
“that’s right my green son, now go and sleep
and while you slumber I’ll put in a call to Greenpeace”

So next morning they went on their way, two generations united
rallied neighbors and friends, everyone was excited.
They planted the seed, but it didn’t stop there,
they marched to the office of Mr. Don’tcare.
They told him the tale of the Truffula trees
and he laughed and he scoffed at his citizen’s needs.

He shooed them out the door, told them they couldn’t stay.
The little boy was disheartened, then his mom yelled “No way!”
“If you wait just a moment and listen, you’ll see
the Earth’s as important for you as for me.
It’s not really thneeds that everyone needs
and we must stop now before all that’s left are the weeds.

But it’s not just the Brown Barbaloots who will suffer,
oh no, even for you, things will get tougher.
One day you too will live as the Once-ler does
alone in the smog, wishing for what once was.
Because someday soon we’ll run out of trees,
there’ll be no more fish, nor flowers, nor bees.
We’ll even run out of that goop in the ground
that you put in your car to make it go round.”

“What? This can’t happen!” cried Mr. Don’tcare,
“How can I fix this?” he asked, pulling his hair.
“We must change the whole system,” an old man chimed in
“leave consumption behind and everyone will win.
We must measure our economy with yuzzamatuzz, not GDP
To raise the standard of living for you and for me.”

“You’re right!” exclaimed Mr. Don’tcare,
as he raised his fists and jumped off his chair.
“We’ll set the example for living with less
and the whole world will follow; we’ll all fix this mess.
We’ll show one and all that our land matters more
than factories, machines, and thneeds galore.
Gather all scientists, leaders, and friends
Once-lers and citizens, the list has no end!
We’ll need everyone together, the rich and the poor
to come up with ways to change lives at the core.
So come along! We’re off! It’s a new day!
Soon, under Truffula trees we will lay!”

A great fight had been fought, and a great victory won
And yet there was still so much more to be done
So the boy raced back to the Once-ler’s sad home
To speak one more time on the Whisper-ma-Phone

Something had changed while the boy was away
The Once-ler seemed sober and somber this day
“What’s wrong?” asked the boy, “why the long face?”
“I had a dream,” said the Once-ler,” “that I must relate”

Last night I was taken again to that day
When that very last tree was taken away
I stood and I watched and I heard a low rumbler.
From outside in the field came a Truffula Tumbler!
Out in the field is one last Truffula tree,
oh how much profit this could bring to me!

In an instant the Lorax vanished into thin air.
Then to find him strapped to the very last Truffula tree over there!
The Truffula tumbler suddenly stopped dead in its tracks.
I ran out to meet them, and demanded the Lorax go back!
“No,” said the Lorax, “No more trees will die today.
I’ll stay here forever- now you must go away!”
I commanded the Truffula Tumbler to hark and spark,
and make its way to the last tree’s bark.

But the Truffula Tumbler only moaned and groaned,
I looked around us to find us not alone.
Beyond the Tumbler, the fruitless Bar-ba-Loots made their way.
They were all of them hungry and in dismay.

The Swomee Swans weathered the smoggy air
and united as one to protect the tree with much care.
The hums of the Humming Fish was heard from the pond.
Their melodic tunes to which I could not respond.
The Bar-ba-loots, Swomee Swans and the Humming Fish formed a coalition,
to help the Lorax win this mission.
As they all locked hands and stood prepared to fight,
the Truffula Tumbler was no longer in sight.

I stood there in awe, speechless for once.
What can we achieve together for all. In the past, I’ve been such a dunce.
In terms of economic progress, with no resources left –
I’ve only left everyone very depressed.
I returned to my Once-ler house and saw that it’s time:
to relinquish the last Truffula seed and admit all my crimes.

The Once-ler knew his dream could foretell of all the things that happen
when there were no resources left, life becomes very unnatural.
He remembered how after all the animals left,
he suddenly felt there had been a great theft.
With all the Thneeds gone and the earth laid to waste,
the Once-ler knew it was time to make haste.
Yet even though he felt terrible
He sensed that change was unbearable.

With the end of the tale the boy gave a shout
“Now you see what all of the fuss is about!”
“Well, now I shall help you,” the Once-ler replied
The boy looked elated but then sat down and sighed
“You think you can solve this with one little seed
But we must show everyone that they don’t need their thneeds.

One person alone can not make this happen
We need a world full of people, a big call to action
It won’t be easy with the systems we face
So brand new ideas must become commonplace
A tree would be nice but its not the solution
The problem arises from our warped institutions
If you offer your help then I will take a stand
Against the capitalist forces destroying our land
Grassroots campaigning, we’ll take to the streets.

And share the tale of the Lorax with all that we meet
Using truffula trees to make ourselves happy
Has turned our whole world into something quite crappy
“For you see, Mr. Once-ler, it’s more than just planting some seeds
If we change what was wrong when the Lorax was first here
The Truffala trees may be back in a few years
So join me and we’ll travel across the land
Searching for people, telling our plan
So that one day the Lorax may return and can see
That nature grows again, wild and free”

With that the Once-ler came down from his sad lonely shack
And they decided they needed a plan of attack
For hours they chattered and plotted and hatched
A big heap of plans designed to combat
Such an issue of water on earth and the air in the sky
That was just much too big for just one simple guy

Once the talking was done it was time to bust out
To the town of the Consumigloos they went with a shout

THEN...
Catch!” called the Once-ler.
to the Consumigloos all.
“It’s a powerful hammer,
to smash the old system’s thrall.
You’re in charge of rebuilding this decrepit old town
Into a place where there’ll be nary a frown.
A local food system, a co-op to boot,
we’ll barter, we’ll trade with no natural resources to loot.
We’ll share all our profits, build sustainable forests
Then the Truffula trees and the Lorax will flourish!

You must mobilize people, but maybe not all
Not everyone thinks that this system must fall.
Gather your forces, make them grow strong
Give them your tools to prove their foes wrong.
Logic and reason and science and morals
These are the tools to liquidate quarrels!

Someday, perhaps, all the people will see
that greed and growth just shouldn’t be
The foundations of human day to day life
They just cause more pain, and hurt and strife
Your new society equal and fair
and based on ideals of earthly care,
will be the model for other struggling nations
who desperately need a new kind of creation.

Speak for the trees, but also the people
who need your voices when theirs are feeble
This world is for everything big and small
Protect it forever, preserve it for all!

People were sad
and ashamed of their thneeds
and realized they were all part of bad deeds
that created the smogulous smoke and the gupulty gook.
Before long
they rallied together to the Truffula yard
working all day without any pay
working all night without stopping in sight.
They worked for a whole month and a half
to create what they called the purifligaft.
The glumped glu was pushed through through-turns and spins
and wheels and sneels
up pipes and shites
down keels and meels
and rushed out the other side
as the bluest most cleanest
water there was
the children could play in the river all day
and all of a sudden one day that next May
the Once-ler realized
Together, together, we’ll watch the weather,
Now, and forever, never say never
A thneed may be what everyone needs
But a healthy world, indeed, is worth far more than greed.

This victory was big, but still not big enough
The work yet ahead was bound to be tough
The boy and the Once-ler crossed mile after mile
But when they found the Lorax they couldn’t help but smile

The Lorax looked sad and quite grim
But then he learned why the boy had come so far to find him
He hugged the boy and let out a big sigh.
He was so happy he had a tear in his eye
“You have finally come” he expressed with such glee
“Someone has cared enough to come and find me!
But just you two alone cannot tackle this issue,”
the Lorax expressed, wiping his tear with a tissue
“We’ll have to start now, we must go right away,
And tell all in the world what the Truffulas would say.”

They walked down the road, creating their plan
Deciding what they would say to “The Man.”
They held a big rally in town as a call for attention
About the Truffulas and the issue of environmental protection.
“If we do not act, the Truffulas will be gone forever!
Please don’t turn back now, we must all act together!”
People soon started gathering ‘round
and the message of the Lorax began to resound.
The more that they heard, the more they were moved
by the fate of the Truffulas and how they were removed.

A general consensus rose up from the crowd,
“This destruction of Earth-- it should never be allowed!
We’ve had it up to here with this market-based liberalism,
what we need in this world is a dash of biocentrism.”
Individually, they would have just gone on their way,
But together, the people decided to stay.
They made plans to talk, and plans to petition,
Changing social constructs became their sole mission.
The Lorax stood proudly and looked at the boy
Saying, “The voices of these people bring me such joy.
I’m so glad you looked past the power of the dollar
And saw that what people need to do is stand up and holler.”

Yet they were not done, they were just getting started
This making of change is not for the faint-hearted

In a hustle and a tussle the Once-ler made a case
For the trees were his friends he couldn’t erase.
He tearfully looked at the Lorax for an accepting leer
Quick to find that his brave stead the Lorax, was never not near.

This time ‘twas the Lorax who let something fall.
“It’s a bill for the government.
It’s the best one of all!
You’re in charge of spreading the word
to gather a herd.
Take the bill to your leaders,
so that they will become readers
of a very important bill,
to create the will and skill,
to change the system.
The bill will read,
that there will be no more thneeds
unless we can learn to conserve the Truffula trees.

GDP must include more than just growth
We must make the leaders make an oath.
Life styles will be changed
Industries rearranged
The Truffula trees will grow
and an increase in biodiversity will show!
More Truffula trees also means
cleaner air and greener scenes
hopefully our members will see
sustainable is the only way we can be
for you see how voters do vote
and gloaters do gloat
people do always get mad
the key to group glee
we all can agree
is democracy and Truffula trustees!

This is a bill that must be read at the top
So over the fence at the White House they hopped

I say President Oborax—Take this new bill! Treat it with care.
Add in clean water. Incorporate fresh air.
Develop new forests, don’t get snorish.
Learn from my tale...
Don’t be a snail!
Greed leads to despair,
So do not err,
If we all work together,
Then the Swomee-Swans
and all of their friends
may come back...
And stay forever!

President Oborax let out a loud, “Harumph!”
“I’ve no time for legislation…
What I need is a triumph!”
The Lorax shook his head
He’s a grouchy old thing
And then he turned bright red
And said, “I’ve thought of a Thing!”
“I’ve thought of a plan”
Grouched the grouching old Once-ler,
“You’ll WAC and not PAT,
Not PAT, but start WAC-ing!
Instead of consuming
Start thinking of shacking!
(“Living in a shack, instead of a palace?”
Interjected Oborax, his voice full of malice)
“Yes indeed!” Cried the Once-ler, “Change is the word!”
“Change from looking at whether economy is booming
GDP as a measure won’t work—crisis is looming!
You can do it, I know that your voice has got clout—
Change the policies; tell everyone what life is about!”

Oborax sat along in his house painted white,
He pondered and he thought
Then he sat down to write.
He drafted a letter, a bill of some-sort
The bill spoke of great changes
It spoke of a new type of sport
It spoke of life rearranges
No more needs! No more thneeds!

President Oborax wrote late into the night,
The candles were burning,
Wax dripped in the light.
He wrote until morning, and then wrote some more!
He wrote until he just couldn’t write anymore!
Then he stood up with his bill gripped in hand
He walked outside, and all across the land!
He strode to the land of the Truffula Trees,
And knocked on the door of the Lorax he sees.

“Lorax,” he yelled at the top of his voice.
“I’ve done it! I’ve got a bill I’m quite sure,
The Lorax walking simply forward
Not to be mistaken with a Morward.
The Lorax looked at President Oborax
And said to him, “is that all?
You propose a bill?
That’s no better than a gill!
You must go to the UN
And become a world leader of men.
You must lead the World Summit
Copenhagen cannot be a Plummet.”

President Oborax stared at him
His mouth a-wide,
His tonsils a-flapping.
How dare this Lorax speak to him like that?
Does he not know he could crush him flat?
President Oborax rose to his full height
And shouted to the Lorax with all his might:
“My bill will have success with Congress.
Do not digress,
For it will be a success.
I have faith in my representatives.
They are not tentative.

The Lorax looked at him sadly,
And wanted to say oh so badly
That Congress would let him down.
The bill would drop like a crown.
“You must go to Copenhagen.
And lead with vigor.
Call up to all nations,
Do not go for summations.
Lead this fight,
Without any fright.
Curb carbon emissions by 80%
No less.
The levels must be at 80%
below 1990 levels.
We can only raise our temperature
By two more degrees.
Or who knows,
The Polar bears may freeze?
Call on all nations,
North and South
Call on all nations
With a Shout.
Something must done,
Nations can not be spun.”

With Oborax on course thing looked very much brighter
So the boy, Once-ler, and Lorax turned the screws one notch tighter
Now the Once-ler and Lorax, working together,
they found many ways to make the Thneed business better.
Together they decided to make Thneeds
through a process that recognized the environment had needs.

For every tree that was cut down, two were put in its place.
This new plan worked, and soon there were Truffula trees in every available space.
The Bar-ba-Loots now had an abundance of food
and came back to live happily because their environment was renewed.
The pair worked together
to create better methods
that made Thneeds without the horrible results of Gloppity Glop and Shloppity Shlop.

This made the Humming Fish go from being annoyed
to being filled with elation and overjoyed.
The Swomee Swans, too, found their air improved,
once the Once-ler and Lorax found new ways to get the air toxins removed.
When these changes were made and seen true,
the Once-ler’s newly sustainable Thneed business grew.
All the animals realized their lives were now great
after the Once-ler got a new world view and gave them all a new fate.
The forests grew bigger and gave all the creatures more habitat.
The Once-ler and the animals found they needed each other, what could be better than that?

The Onceler and Lorax grew old together,
and saw this alternative way was much better
A future where the bar-ba-loots happily play
Where humming-fish hum ‘til the end of the day
And leaves of the truffla trees play in the breeze
Home to swomee swans nesting with ease
But the Onceler’s lesson should not be forgotten
If we want a future that’s not rank and rotten
For in our press for limitless growth
We often create a world we loathe

So if we want bar-ba-loots, and truffla trees,
If we want to enjoy the birds and bees
We must find ways to work together
To make our world that much better
Alone the Onceler would’ve been lost
and all of us would’ve suffered the cost
But with the Lorax’s compassion
A green future became the fashion
Talk to your neighbor, your family today
Don’t spend your time dreaming the future away
Get out and move, create tangible change,
Even if some might look at you strange
And if you’re lucky one day when your traveling wide
You might meet the Onceler and Lorax walking side by side

Learn from this tale...
It’s a question of scale.
Greed in the big guys
will lead to despair.

So do not linger
If we all work together,
then the Lorax
and all of his friends
will come back...
And stay forever!

Get all of your friends,
And the friends of your friends,
And find the Lorax and start a new trend,
But this cannot be the end of the show,
For we still have a long way to go,
We must do this together,
Together as one,
And we shall not stop until this fight is won,
There are no “I’s”,
We are now “We’s”,
As a collective we speak for the trees,
Even you makers and wearers of thneeds,
Our united action must be as swift as the breeze
Do not bicker or squabble
And forget why we care
We must do this together
Because it’s a world we share.

Would you not like
A nice world to live in?
Where we all think
Of each other as kin.
From the tops of the trees
To the bottom of hills
The loss of our resources
Will heighten the price of our bills.
It is imperative
We give it shot
And make sure our action
Is warranted and not bought.
I hope this rhyme
Will help us out
Towards working together
And going on a world-saving scout.

So let’s go ahead and be the change
Decrease the carbon emissions
A mission that sure will never change
And instead of being a scout, let’s be a team
And never let doubt be our clout
A clout that many believe, that climate change is indeed not here.
But look at the evidence and you will see
The same story of the Lorax and that tree
All over the world
People are crying, because our governments are lying
Saying they will stop climate change
But all we have seen is climate change
Snow in the summer
That’s a great bummer
So let’s get down to the change
Push back your sleeves
And put your brain on rerun
And see the mistakes that have been made
And let those mistakes never fade

We must come together
If we hope to fix the weather
We must be a group
We must keep everyone in the loop
If you want to save the Truffula trees
Or stop gasses that make people sneeze
If you want to save the truffafarks
Or build more national parks
We must all work together
Because alone, nothing will get better.