You Shine Where You Stand

Bert Jansch: The Ornament Tree

Bruce Cockburn: If a Tree Falls

Let the trees
be consulted
before you take
any action.
Every time
you breathe in
thank a tree.
Let tree roots
crack parking lots at
the world bank headquarters.
Let loggers be druids
specially trained
and rewarded
to sacrifice trees
at auspicious times.
Let carpenters
be master artisans.
Let lumber be treasured
like gold.

Let chainsaws be played
like saxophones.
Let soldiers on maneuvers
plant trees.
Give police and criminals
a shovel and
a thousand seedlings.
Let businessmen
carry pocketfuls
of acorns.
Let newlyweds
honeymoon in the woods.
Walk don’t drive.
Stop reading newspapers.
Stop writing poetry.
Squat under a tree
and tell stories.

--John Wright
Earth Prayers