Earth Speaks
The day the earthquake struck
We danced with the moving earth,
Unaware that a short distance away
Lives were lost,
Buildings crumbled,
Cars crushed,
Roads buckled,
And the earth tore herself open.
Here among green trees
Life abounds
A creek flows nearby
While not far away acres and homes burn,
Lives and livelihoods
Uprooted, lost.
But for a shift of wind,
A match, a lightning strike,
Fire could burn this dry place, too.
We drove across the Great Plains
Green crops stretched
Horizon to horizon,
And understood how people here
Could not fathom
Limitations to the earth’s resources:
The edge felt by city dwellers
Where food and shelter,
Space and water,
Are dear.
Oceans rise,
Weather patterns shift,
Animals leave or die,
Yet we cling to what was once
Dependable, predictable
And ignore the messages
From an earth who’s
Had enough.
Nancy Schluntz is an intuitive animal communicator, animal Reiki practitioner, and Animal Chaplain. Her practice is dedicated to helping animals and their people deepen their understanding and relationship. She provides compassionate grief support for pet loss and in times of life transitions. Nancy has contributed pieces to several anthologies and publishes a blog on her website, www.NancySchluntz.com