poem, by Carley Ritter (2021)
Come, let us offer ourselves to this
One Earth
With reverence and devotion
Bow before her edible altar
Drink deep of her living waters
Be still
Study her with curiosity and a commitment
To save ourselves from our own self-centeredness
Reclaim our undeniable interconnectedness
No, we can’t do it without her
Try as we might to tame and till
Do we really think our ways can match
The million years magic she’s making?
Ever regenerating
Oh, humanity
It is in protecting her that we are protected
It is in her healing that we are healed
May we walk humbly on the deeper path
Above empty taking and endless trashing
Find our place in her sound system
That we were never in control of
Kneel for each needed piece
Of the hallowed whole
It is beautiful and we belong to it
Together, we sing the hymn of life
Varied, wild, wonderful life
Remember the harmony