Monday, June 20, 2011

The Summer Solstice: The Earth Prays




Once a year it's the Summer Solstice,
Tekufat Tamuz,
And that is when the Earth prays.
The Earth tilts toward the sun and bends its planetary knees,
Shukling towards the its own Ner Tamid, eternal light,
And says a brucha:

The earth prays
A prayer of remembrance of its molten youth and the winter cold,
And a prayer for the warmth that brings on desire and continuity.

The earth prays
A prayer of desperation, choking on the plastic and the garbage and the combustion,
And a prayer of renewal, surrounded by the wind and the smells of the vast renewing sea.


The Earth prays
A prayer of sorrow for the pain we inflict on each other
And a prayer of healing, if we will only allow it.

The Earth prays
A prayer of fear for the future all of the creatures who feed upon her,
And a prayer of indifference, because she will be here long after we are gone.

The Earth prays and we pray, too.

We bend our knees this summer
And daven with the Earth,
We are all one and there is no other.

The Earth prays and we pray, too.
We give our thanks for all creation
And bow in awe at the magnificence of that tilt,
We are one and there is no other.

The Earth prays and we pray, too.
We pray with our feet
And take responsibility for our home with every hallelujah.
We are one and there is no other.

Blessed One-ness, hear all our voices.


Amen