The Earth speaks
to the child she befriends
the boy who adores her
who speaks his first words
surrounded by her beauty
earth gives endlessly to the child
everyday reaching him with hope
through sunlight and a breeze
giving him what he needs to succeed
the others earth has given to
hurt the child
as they do not give as earth does
he returns to the peace
he finds within nature
as tears tickle his face
he’s eighteen now
remembering all he wasted
somber as he recalls the way
he betrayed a world
that had given all he needed
yet the earth still forgives
comforting him with its flowers
strengthening him with its air
the boy tries to live better
realizing the earth is his true home
its inhabitants are his family
he begins to give to them
as the earth gave to him
as he grows older
he watches friends die
dreams fade away
he screams at the world around him
“ why did you betray me”
earth seems silent now
yet a peace overcomes the man
that he left his mark on earth
as his body leaves earth
the earth pours light down
reminding him
that just as aspects of earth
fade away over time
humans must fade away
although just as earth remains
all the man touched will remain forever
his impact will live on in the souls
of all he encountered
the earth would give to those younger
and in doing so
the spirit of the man
would live on forever
he is now one with earth
buried in her arms
next to those he loves
his body couldn’t live
but his home always will
so his spirit will too