By Helen G. Rousseau,
Without SourceI am nothing.Without the bracing sides of marshor landI would have no boundaries,would not fulfill my destinyof bringing water to the manywho await my abundance.
Without gravity,my dance would morphfrom this waltzI’ve been dancing for generationsto a boogie-woogie-free-for-allwreaking havoc on air and land,changing the outcome for everything.
As much as I am the pouring outand the flow,I am also the vesselholding the richness of silt and sand,the bodies of fish and fowl,and plants that nourish us all.
Though connected to Source,I remain at the mercyof the clouds that feed meand the sun that takes from me.More than anything, though,I am now at the mercyof human neglect and arrogance,having become a dumping groundfor the waste of productivityand so-called development.
Thankfully, I am also at the mercyof those who are awakenedto their connection to me,to the earth and each other,knowing we are all onecoming from the same Source.
The fish are speaking for me.The birds are singing for me.The children of today have eyesthat see what their parents have not,have hearts that envelop the worldand not just their tribe.
It is from them I awaitmy final chance to be restored.It is because of themI still have hope.
Helen is an ordained Interfaith Minister. She was a Catholic nun for thirty years and spirituality has always been central to her life. At present, she sees her ministry as writing and leading writing groups, which she has done for twelve years.
Her latest book of poetry is entitled Poems for a World on Fire: Meditations on Hope. Its focus is on all the major issues of our day including global warming, migrations, and COVID-19. These poems give voice to the earth, its peoples, animals, trees, seas, land, and all that makes this planet uniquely our home. Her work is infused with an underpinning of hope and a trust in life. She reads a poem every week on Facebook. To contact Helen or order a book, go to www.helenrousseau.com
River image by Chris Engel