Beneath my feet are the makings of the universe.
Of molten core released and solidified.
Of mountains and trees ground down to soil.
Of forests become farmland,
Of farmland become housing estate,
Compacted by heavy machinery, clay now, nutrients gone.
Of a decade and a half of compost and cow manure,
Aerated with a garden fork,
And chickens scratching for grubs.
Fertilised by wild birds and a handful of pet chooks and even a bunny that chose here as her home,
And water run off from veggie beds.
Beneath my feet is a lawn made more of wild bird seed sprout than manicured green.
Not level and pristine,
but filled with dandelions let go to fluff,
And clover,
And lemon balm that makes me close my eyes and breath deep with unabashed joy whenever mowed.
Beneath my feet is my own little bit of wild,
Surely she is tamed a little, like me,
But the wild is still there (in us both) - if you look closely.
If you listen.
If you are present and filled with gratitude.
If you choose respect and reverence and reciprocity.
We tell stories to each other, this love beneath my feet and I.
Beneath my feet is the place I have lived for a long time, but only recently realised I could choose to root into instead of dreaming of elsewhere.
Like the trees I planted as root stock that now soar stories high and house the winged wild.
Beneath my feet is the song of this land that I listen to now, that I hear and feel, that I unfurl into.
7th August 2022
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(this month I am following along with Susannah Conway (Ink on My Fingers) #augustbreak2022 prompts. Today’s prompt was ‘beneath my feet’)
I love this poem. I often have students that have the idea that nature only exists out in the wilderness and don't realize that nature is everywhere - in the wild, in the cities and yes, underneath our feet. She never left us - we just forget to see.
This touched my soul! Yes, a return to the wild untamed land is what we all need beneath our feet!