[GeoffC]

Prayer to The Earth

When first the wind blows
Turn and bow to the east;
With the rising sun bathe,
Take its warmth as a feast.

When next the wind dies
Turn widdershins to the west;
Let the dying sun bless,
Seeing you at your best.

When next the sun dims
Turn again, widdershins to the north;
Feel earth’s pull,
Power all feelings forth.

When next the rising moon,
If in the full;
Widdershins to the south, turn again;
Cleanse your soul with the tides
Take it deep to each vein.

When next you dream
Sail deep through the night;
Mother earth to one side
Deep love to the right.

Feel Earth’s deep rhythm
To the pores of your soul
Helping you through the night;
Keeping you whole.

Look forward the birth,
Of another day.
When first the sun’s rays shine,
Turn widdershins again,
And again.


*************
Misused

[An office where I once worked, as a shift worker, used to be located alongside the harbour. Ladies, young and old, often thin, cold, possibly drug-users, used to frequent the roads in the area starting as early as 5PM, standing at the pavements or sitting on walls no matter what the weather.
Thankfully those roads are now cleared, but probably only to drive these ladies elsewhere.]

Misused for pleasure, not hers.
On roadside cold
she stands, in dress too thin; and haggard looks, too old.

Frost-bitten mite, she looks and hopes
to save her stolen plight, youth long lost.
At cost.

Failed waif legal just, forced mature
‘afore her time, she’s aged
and, in this theft of life, caged.

Joy only for each moment short, the warmth
of body close – or heat
of car. Thrown, then, back to street.

No change each night, she’s
used and misused, no one cares
despite, poor quality of her wares.

Misused for pleasure, not hers.
On roadside cold
she stands too tired; too thin;
too hard and haggard,
ever bought and over-sold.


***************
Quaking Earth

Without a thought the earth did roar;
Two plates once bound
for an age, or more
did slip, and unwound.

Distressed, at ocean deep
Land once level, released, now sundered.
Giants of waves no longer asleep,
Delivered ashore, wild steeds, no mere white horses; we blundered.

Galloping forth, unbridled, wanton, unchecked
All in their path
Were wrecked.
What once was, now no more.

Silence,
Force now spent;
But at deep it continued, defiant cadence.
Until another, rent
shook and earth did scream,
again.