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.