Planting Seeds

 

“Let’s not isolate from the marvellous.” – Martin Shaw

 

 

I submitted this poem for Letters to the Earth’s ‘Letters in Lockdown’ callout. An excerpt from it was read out online by actor Ubah Egal on Earth Day 2020. https://www.letterstotheearth.com/

 

Planting Seeds

 

It is the seed moon,

the time of sowing.

The roads and skies

have grown quiet.

Sometimes in the stillness

I can feel the earth dreaming.


There are many things I can't do

in these strange times.

But I can plant seeds.

I hold them like prayers

in the palm of my hand,

I notice their shape and size,

the way they catch the light.

Their impossible promise.

I teach my children

to make wishes on them -

and I make wishes too.


I breathe my brightest,

most golden dreams

into these seeds,

dreams wild as sweet violets

on hidden forest floors.


Poppy, nasturtium, sunflower and sage:

bring nectar, food and medicine,

praise the sun.

Corn, squash, tomato and bean:

seeds of hope

for the creatures

and the wild places

and all those yet to come.


May this great pause

be a seed itself

for the beautiful future

which wants and waits to be born.


I think anyone who says

that miracles aren't possible

must not have planted seeds.