Chris Lowther photo
When my heart has no words
when there is too much to pray for
and not enough justice
in the world
to right all the wrongs
When Australia is burning
as the climate naysayers bray,
I walk my speechless heart
into the forest
to try to find my way
Each tree
a living prayer
offering balm and breath
to the soul-weary
Each birdcall a note of hope
in the planetary song
humankind has
gotten wrong
When my heart has
only tears,
when there is too much
to pray for
to pray for
and hope is fading
day by day,
day by day,
I let the trees pray for me
Breathe their peacefulness
into my being
Listen to all
they have to say
Each tree
a living prayer,
each human adding either
dark or light
to our interconnected
planetary plight.
planetary plight.
Beautiful
ReplyDeletean inner peace and hope to this, Sherry...beautiful poem
ReplyDelete"Each tree
ReplyDeletea living prayer"---May everyone have your eyes, Sherry. Such beautiful utterance...
How your poems have grown closer to wilderness, embraced their truths & healing! Maybe the bigger the wound, the more birthing the womb ... The next to last stanza says it all. May we all sing of trees that they may pray for us. - Brendan
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the John Muir quote:
ReplyDelete“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” I also have found much peace and comfort in the praying of the trees. Lovely poem, to address the sadness even if not all of it can be assuaged.
I often return to Jay's admonition to "wear the world like a loose garment" because othewise it will drive you mad. Anyway, I always find forests and woods calming and centering.
ReplyDeleteHow precious indeed, and nurturing, are trees, and how important it is that we cherish them. May your forests long remain!
ReplyDeleteTrees are something I want to have close (always) and if there's a lake or the sea I feel strong and able to face the lies (and maybe contribute a little to change)
ReplyDeleteIt can be daunting with so much to pray for. As a child I remember a list of the few (very few) people to pray for that I knew had died. How innocent those days, now with so much more to pray for.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, it does feel like I have too much to pray for these days. You should see my intention list.
ReplyDeleteI am convinced that animals, like your wolf, trees and all of nature are tangible prayers. All we need is to look into the eyes of an animal or hug a tree and we can touch heaven.
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad that nature can raise its own voice, when ours is silent. Beautiful!
ReplyDelete