Gaia

1

A

It all began ten billion years ago

A big bang scattered dust into space

The dust cloud then condensed into solid

Gravity had pulled matter into place

B

Planets formed stars burned bright (the)

Universe in its twi-light

C

Earth was in a turbulent state, (no)

life survived in this hostile place

Liquid plastic amorphous rock

Shaped by storms and meteorite shock

Radiation high on the ground

Fires burning all around

Gamma, X-rays and solar winds

The atmosphere wasn't kind

D

Acid rivers, boiling lakes

Mega violent earthquakes

A mixture of poisonous gases

Hot lava and volcanic ashes

2

A

Time went by and the earth began to cool

Frozen comets brought water here from space

Lightning triggered chemical change

Oceans formed between continental plates

B

Complex molecules began to appear (the)

building blocks of life were here

C

A simple cell came on the set

found a niche that was warm and wet

Then colonies of bacteria (and) 

microscopic algae appear

Mutation of cells over time

Created a specialised line

Life with complexity of form

Diversity became the norm

D

As life evolved it harnessed the planet

Changed its chemistry changed its climate

Replaced the atmosphere with its own

It built and ran a stable home

3

A

The composition of the air we breathe

Its temperature and humidity

The saltiness of all the seas

Kept constant and in harmony

B

Earth became a single living force

Each part pursuing its own course

C

Elements driven in a cycle

A process active and vital (from)

air to water, soil to plant cell

Consumed then returned when the animal fell

Carried on plates of the earths crust (to)

mountains or volcanic dust

As soil or stone, dissolved in rain

As flesh and bone a linking chain

D

This is the story of our origin

A living film clings like a skin

On land and sea there is Gaia

Great creator and destroyer