Earth Day ~ A Day Late and a Dollar Short

May 20, 2009 /

Earth
I heard this poem read on NPR the other day, and it really struck me. It struck me of the beauty of our world, of the importance of our caring for it. Of our stewardship of this Earth. I know I’m late, and that Earth Day was April 22nd. But still, our Earth does not deserve just a day. But a lifetime. An eternity. It’s not just some fruity tree hugger thing I’m talking about here…save the Earth, save the world. Meaning….us.

‘The Well Rising’
by William Stafford

The well rising without sound,
the spring on a hillside,
the plowshare brimming through the deep ground
everywhere in the field —

The sharp swallows in their swerve
flaring and hesitating
hunting for the final curve
coming closer and closer —

The swallow heart from wing beat to wing beat
counseling decision, decision:
thunderous examples. I place my feet
with care in such a world.

And then, the other side of the coin:

We’ve got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?
~Lee Iacocca

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