Sunday, April 24, 2011

Mojo Monday ~ Poetry for Mother Earth

Image Digitally Created by Michelle Fairchild in 2008
It seemed fitting to bring together poetry and thoughts about our Mother Earth seeing as how April is National Poetry Month and the 41st Anniversary of Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd.  

Our planet absolutely astounds me.  There are so many descriptive words that come to mind while contemplating our shared globe: wondrous, remarkable, amazing, incredible…and yet none of them can really do it justice.  How do you describe something so sacred and miraculous?  

What I know is that we do the best we can using our sacred earthly tools such as words, both prose and poetry, paintings, songs, dances, culinary arts, rituals and activism.  

In honor of our big blue planet here is a compilation of prose, poetry and song to honor her.


My Dearest Mother Earth, 

Your beauty is astounding
so much so that it brings tears

to the eyes of those who really see you

the greens and blues, the red, browns and yellows

the rainbows that you sometimes wear like magical jewels

and underneath your stunning appearance

you are humble
 

You are a provider
a giver of life

if it were not for you

and the water that covers

two thirds of your surface

there would be no life

and yet you are humble
 

There are those
in certain circles

who are concerned

about worshipping you

as a deity

and yet it seems

that since our very

lives and survival

depends on you

that there needs to be

greater Reverence in how we view you
 

There needs to be more
love and respect

in our actions and thoughts

towards you

and while we can celebrate

that forty-one years ago

inspired individuals celebrated

the first Earth Day on

April 22, 1970

we must also honor that

every day is Earth Day.


~ By Michelle Fairchild

In the Midst of Pain

By Gregg Krech 

Once, not long ago, it was a hearty tree
providing shade, food, and oxygen—

a world of its own.
 

For a hundred years,
perhaps more,

it flourished with breath and life.
 

Then it was cut, sawed, ground, and pressed
until it found itself resting softly

between two friends.
 

Peacefully and patiently
it waited for the moment

it would burst forth into the world

and exercise the meaning of its life.
 

And now that moment has come.
It gracefully caresses my cheek,

wiping the tears from my eyes

and taking on my pain as its own
 

All those years
as seed, tree, wood

and tissue

in preparation for the fleeting moment

it would console my sadness.
 

As it gives its life to comfort me
I almost failed to see the kindness in its deed.
 

Wrapped up in self-centered pain, tear-blinded,
I nearly missed its selfless service.

Who will give witness to such compassion if not me?
 

 Shriveled and soaked, it died while serving a fool
who discarded thousands of its brothers and sisters

without a thanks –not one tear shed in gratitude.
 

Teach me to see through the teardrop, that in the midst of pain
I may understand the true source

of the softness against my face.
 

Teach me to cry with my eyes wide open.


"With My Own Two Hands"

I can change the world
With my own two hands
Make it a better place
With my own two hands
Make it a kinder place
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I can make peace on earth
With my own two hands
I can clean up the earth
With my own two hands
I can reach out to you
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I'm going to make it a brighter place
With my own two hands
I'm going to make it a safer place
With my own two hands
I'm going to help the human race
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I can hold you
With my own two hands
I can comfort you
With my own two hands
But you've got to use
Use your own two hands
Use your own
Use your own two hands
With our own
With our own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands



~ by Jack Johnson featuring Ben Harper





Share your thoughts about Mother Earth.  

If you feel inspired write her a letter, a poem, a song and share it with us here.



Earth Song by Michael Jackson










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