A Council for All Beings

worldwildlife.org

Roll Call

Red wolf came, and passenger Pigeon,

and Dodo Bird, all the gone or endangered

came and crowded around in a circle,

the Bison, the Irish Elk waited

silent, the Great White Bear fluid and strong,

sliding from the sea, streaming and creeping

into the gathering darkness, nose down

bowing to earth its tapered head,

where the Black-footed Ferret, paws folded,

stood in the center surveying the multitude

and spoke for us all:  “Dearly beloved,” it said.

              - William Stafford

This came to my inbox this morning and is too beautiful not to share.