Oh to be, Wild and Free, Again

Happy Earth Day

O beloved, wild spaces wherefore art thou beloved, wild spaces?

I don't know about you but my heart longs for a return to regular forest trail walking, sitting unencumbered on a riverbank, not worrying* about if I drove too far to get there while standing on the cape and breathing deeply the salt water air.

Sigh.

Desperate I am, like a heartsick lover after a prolonged absence longing for a return to the feast with their beloved. Wishing, wishing for a return of those sweet caresses. The swoosh of an evergreen branch on my jacket. The scent of the forest floor overcoming me. The dizzying array of greening and preening going madly on about me.

Mother of God I am wanting for casting my eyes on the spaces and places I love.

It's Spring on the Island and on Earth Day this desperation feels even more poignant to me.

Beautifully I realize that none of this is about me. My desire is not unique. In none of this am I alone.

And like so many generous, caring others, until the nod is given to go freely, I offer up my personal longing to those who've lost loved ones, to those front line workers who are afraid for their families, for all who are confused, frightened, lonely and feeling desperate. I recognize that my need for nature connection is real and honour that need as safely and near to home as I can. I wish you the same.

To celebrate Earth Day 2020 I share with you children author Frank Asch's lovely poem entitled Breaks Free taken from The 20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury selected by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Meilo So. I think it speaks beautifully to what many of us desire.

Breaks Free

I just want to be

where the earth breaks free

of concrete and metal and glass,

of asphalt and plastic and gas,

where sun is king

and water is queen,

where cactus grow tall

and the air is clean.

I just want to be

where the earth breaks free

of fences and alleys and walls,

of factories and traffic and malls,

where owls sleep

in the heart of day

waiting for sunset

to hunt their prey,

where mountains rise

in seas of sand

and coyotes roam

across the land.

Frank Asch

The quote below is from an Ecologist essay that I admit I struggled to get through and speaks specifically about COVID-19. Imagine for a moment that where he says human lives it is the climate crisis/environment that he was speaking about. The market does not have to rule. There are far more compassionate and inclusive ways to live.

"Most of the governments in Europe are prepared to spend unimaginable amounts of money – numbers that make no sense – to pay benefits, to save banks, to save companies, to save stock markets. They are doing that.

But the place where they draw the line is this - they will not take control over any part of production to save human lives. They will not disrupt the rules of the market. They will do anything, kill anyone, before they do that. This has become such an accepted rule of modern society that hardly anyone comments on it." https://theecologist.org/2020/apr/14/staying-safe-after-lockdown

As well, I've noted a number of writers comparing the COVID-19 situation and response, to the climate crisis situation and lack of a global consensus response. Both crises disproportionately affect those marginalized by society's systems and institutions. Both need caring, global responses.

Be well, Love Earth!

Jill

* worry about doing it wrong and really wanting to do it right has prevented me from going to any of my wild spaces and fave places if I can't get there by walking and of course, social distancing.