Earth Day Poem

In my yoga classes this week, I read a poem by Stephanie Kaza, (writer, practicing Soto Zen Buddhist, and active proponent of religious dialogue. @https://www.stephaniekaza.com/)

This beautiful poem resonated me, not only for Earth Day, but as a way to honor our body and all it does as we move through our lives on the Earth.

“Please, dear mother Earth,

Help me to stand firm on my own two feet

Drawing on the solid earth below me

Help me to know the constancy of your strength

the power that is you, oh dear mother earth

Help me to walk with the blood of rivers in my veins

and the dark crumbling soil of earth in my flesh

let my muscles be strong as tree trunks

that rise up out of your belly

To dance in the sky

and sing praises to the life all around

Beating, pulsing, rich and full

with your sweet energy.

Oh dear mother earth

live in this body today.

Sing loudly in every breath I take

Stretch wildly and flow freely

with all the directions I move

and come home with me,

come home to my belly

live deep in my soul

oh mother earth, SING!”