A Treatice on the Efficacy of Nature

A TREATICE ON THE EFFICACY OF
NATURE

If you haven't welcomed
the morning sun
as it works its way
down the mountain,
If you haven't noticed
death and decay in a dying log,
or
studied patience
in the eons of duff
on the forest floor,

If you haven't sung
your joy with the wildflowers,
or considered your fear
as it secrets itself
in the crevices of rocks,

If you haven't allowed
your sorrow
to float downstream
with the falling leaves
or
abandoned your hopes
as they rise with a bird
to mingle with the tops
of sunlit branches,

Then go to what is
left of our ancient forests
and drink deeply.

Here is what
you have been
thirsting for

The earth innocent
of man's desire.

Here
lick civilization's wounds
from your small animal body,
and learn to be gentle
with the world once more.