If I were new to this earth,
I would find violets.
I would lie down in the sun
on a bed of clover
and feel the world spin beneath
my surprised and miraculous body.
I would kneel before iris,
fingers extending curiously
to brush their rippled edges.
I would follow my nose
into the wild plums
and through the lilacs.
I would brave burgundy canes of thorn
to reach for sweet blackberries
and raspberries.
I would pause
with my head had tipped back
to the blue sky
to wonder
as the shadows of vultures and hawks
riding the air
fall across my face.
I would watch the way light
shines through wild grape vines
and new maple leaves
and understand what worship means.
I would listen until I hear the river
and I would seek it out,
setting my feet gently into its cool swiftness
and bending low
to anoint my face with newborn droplets.
I would be astounded
by rainbows,
by color,
by thunder.
I would learn bird’s songs
and sing with them.
I would find pine trees
sighing in the wind
and lie beneath them,
my eyes full of tears
without knowing why.
I would discover
what it means
to belong to a place.
I would be me,
today,
right here,
my birthday,
again.
I wrote this poem on my birthday last week. If you were new to this earth, what would you do?
Also, I'm pleased to announce the birth of my new book! 365 Days of Goddess is a daily reader that will guide you through a full year of sacred experiencing, with 365 prayers and readings to support, nurture, encourage, and inspire you on your goddess-centered path.
The book is also available on Amazon and Kindle.
