Becoming and Not

The earth reclaims her own.

“From dust to dust,”

And from dust to trees,

From trees to these autumn

Leaves left scattered

On the ground in early spring.

Our houses– so secure,

So lovely — need to be safeguarded

From their homes;

Even our lives seem to need

Protecting from the place where

They are living.

 

 

Author’s Note:

I wrote this poem while thinking about how incredibly disconnected our lives have become from their physical realities. Our lives are inherently connected to the earth, and it seems the earth itself tries to remind us through erosion of asphalt streets, the rotting of wooden houses, and the perseverance of life throughout the seasons. Perhaps life would be less stressful if we viewed these natural intrusions as an invitation to return home rather than a threat to the way our lives are supposed to be.