Thursday, January 18, 2018

FOR THE TREES



The Hanging Garden Tree
on Meares Island,
Tofino, B.C.


Womyn of the earth,
we are rising, all over the world:
primal, wild,
womyn of the wind
and the ocean's roar,
womyn in sisterhood with trees,
clothed in moss green and salal,
mists and cloudlings in our hair
dotted with the last morning stars.
We are rooted, connected;
understanding all living things
are interdependent,
we move through damaged forests,
planting trees and dreams and hope
for tomorrow's children.

Strong, sure-footed, eyes bright,
we are coming:
to plant trees,
to clean streams,
to rescue abused animals and children,
to topple the man-child
off his tarnished throne.

We make obeisance
to the morning sun,
salute the four directions,
proclaim, loud and strong,
that a new day is coming.
Out of the ashes of patriarchy,
we are rising:
to turn off the money-greed,
for we know there is Enough for all;
to turn on the nurturing, the restoring,
the repairing, the healing, the cleansing.
Our inner fire will burn away
the dead-spirited and the dross,
transforming this earth to
healthy growth after so much loss.

It's a new day.

Mother Earth is crying out in relief
that the wild womyn
of the new dawn and the ancient cave
are on the march.
Everywhere She is rising,
planting seeds and hope.
Dew-blessed, singing, joyous,
a million million strong,
we know this world can be
better than it is.
Mother Earth can be healed,
but not by corporate greed
and corrupt power.
We know peace can come,
through social justice,
not through war and killing.

We are coming,
we womyn who listen
to the moon and the tides
and the seasons,
we, to whom the earth speaks
of its ways and its reasons.
Wild Womyn all,
we dance on the earth,
claiming our power,
for this, and no other,
must be our most determined 
hour.


for my prompt today at Real Toads: The Tree Sisters aim to plant a billion trees this year world-wide. My prompt is to write about  whatever aspect of the state of the earth fires your passion - trees, climate change, extinctions - but to do it with hope, as much as is possible. I went a bit over the top, given the sorry state of things. But I do think if women rise up all over the earth to speak for things both wild and tame, we have a shot at turning things around. But we don't have much time. The orange man is destroying it all.





17 comments:

  1. Yes we do listen to the rhythms of mother earth and dance in step with her dreams

    much love...

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  2. "to turn on the nurturing, the restoring,
    the repairing, the healing, the cleansing.
    "

    I'd say not just the current administration but for a very long time we've needed to turn the tide. Truly, a nurturing and careful approach has long been in order.

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  3. You're right, Margaret. We are 40 years beyond when we should have begun. My friends and I were despairing way back then and everyone thought we were lunatics.

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  4. Sherry, the tree sisters will love you for this! An eloquent war cry!

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  5. Very solid and caring call to arms. To nurture, heal, rescue....Trump is indeed a monster. We all need to work together to bring him to his knees and to make the earth well again. Thank you for your words and for this prompt.

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  6. A beautiful poem and hymn for the trees , mother nature and the tree sisters!!!

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  7. Look, listen and learn are so important with survival yet humans are so truculent and vain that they think their way is the answer for the wrong reason which is greed. Sadly the lessons are taught but one pupil will never learn and he thinks he knows it all already.

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  8. Perfect for the cause!!! You did great, Sherry. The day IS near, just keep at it. Your end lines will come true,
    Wild Womyn all,
    we dance on the earth,
    claiming our power,
    for this, and no other,
    must be our most determined
    hour
    - - - -
    Amen
    ..

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  9. A powerful and heartfelt plea..i do believe the wyld women will come

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  10. One seed at a time will build a strong forest. Powerful sentiments Sherry.

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  11. womyn in sisterhood with trees,
    clothed in moss green and salal,
    mists and cloudlings in our hair
    dotted with the last morning stars.

    This is such a positive view of womanhood, even of humanity as a whole. I certainly agree that our collective hour has come to rise up for what is right. Thank you for a very pertinent prompt, Sherry.

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  12. I love the name, Sherry: The Hanging Garden Tree!
    I also love the call to 'Womyn of the earth' and '
    womyn of the wind', 'womyn in sisterhood with trees', and the image of
    'mists and cloudlings in our hair
    dotted with the last morning stars'.
    I agree with Kerry about the poem being a positive view of womanhood.

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  13. Perfect! There is so much power and strength in those words

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  14. I think we can all help with what we can... I hope that being a bike commuter can help a bit... and we need all the forests we can have...

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  15. A bold clarion call for change! Well done!

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  16. This is beautiful. Women sending their focus on healing, growth, restoration, the feminine power of life is such a powerful message.

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  17. "we dance on the earth claiming our power"
    A vivid image from a powerful, heartfelt poem.

    Thank you for this wonderful prompt!

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