The universe gave birth to the stars and planets. Theoretically the origin began by a series of cataclysmic

eruptions in the great beyond. Something we refer to as space, infinity of existence unimaginable. My point

is Universe as mother or simply womb. Planets in infancy like glass marbles tossed across asphalt. Beautiful

embryos awaiting recipient and the miracle of life, where why how doesn’t matter. A concept in all its complexities

shapes and forms, with one very basic objective, survival, the most natural of all instincts. We’ve

found, or rather it’s been demonstrated in millions of instances how life bounces back. The tree or plant

thought dead, bearing fruit and leaves the next season like unyielding mother. An animal in the wild severely

wounded mending itself with only nature at its side. Millions of years, a nano second in time and space,

prehistoric life is birthed from the earth’s ocean womb. Grand children of universe, born to slither, crawl

and finally walk, be it four or two limbs. Traveling great distance to spawn and spread. Exquisite, inquisitive,

entities yearning to learn grow ultimately evolving into innovative self sufficient creatures. We’ve learned to

utilize raw materials for tools, weapons and instruments of wonder for growth. We’ve also become reliant

on one another as community and family. The rise from prehistoric culture to civilization and progress

has turned. Access, greed, power and supremacy have brought human beings to our present condition.

Apparently we’ve learned nothing of nature and a mother’s will to survive. We have under the auspices of

advancement, with blatant disregard for nature and its natural resources. Have and continue to methodically

drain them in abundance, for instruments of convenience and war.

Plant life, water, oil, all of nature’s life blood abused. Human beings like a virus attacking an immune system.

Wouldn’t the earth as a living organism fight to sustain itself, protect itself as any living creature from decease?

Perhaps the earth is trying to survive, to protect its other more appreciative life forms. This with no

other choice than by destroying what has become an infection that threatens her very existence. A mother

in nature will sacrifice one child to preserve the lives of all her children. Is that what the planet is doing?

Curing its self, self preservation,

Are human beings earth’s virus?

Go West, young woman, and see

the thick tributaries, once rivers,

now roads, thrumming highways, that truck goods to

your door, the ripened strawberries

for your breakfast, the shoes on your feet

Tough-whiskered Yanks, Irish too,

and Chinese laid the rails joining our

two coasts, metal ringing upon metal,

sparking fires of creation, of industry, of

building up to the sky, rather

than reducing to a blight of cinders.

Criss-crossing the patchwork quilt

of corn, soybeans, barley, wheat, oats, the barns

of lowing cattle, squealing swine, cackling hens, the

hum of honeybees hard at work, an orchestra of the

outpouring of America released by

human hands tilling the soil, these

notes sing still, through the days and nights,

a world never-ending

Your speech/ is yours/

And it/ is free/

This is/ the way/

It was/ meant to be/

Burma-Shave