I am the wilderness

In honor of Earth Day, national poetry month and in the spirit of vulnerability, I share this poem as my first post.

I started writing this poem in 2020 but couldn’t get it to come together in the way that I wanted. Then last November, we said goodbye to our dog of 18 years. She was like our first child. In her passing, Dakota gave me the words I had been searching for. In this, you learn a lot about me - how I think about the world, what I care about, what I aspire to.

Happy Earth Day and welcome to “Noticing.”

I am the Wilderness

I am the rays bringing the dawn
I am the gaze of a curious fawn

I am the embers raising alarm
I am the fire releasing her harm

I am the pinecone, a sheltering house
I am the scurry of a startled mouse

I am the seed released from the cone
I am a sapling seeking a home

I am the raindrops releasing pain
I am the soil welcoming rain

I am the wind expelling my rage
I am the mountain, solid & brave

I am the one who must say goodbye
I am the one wondering why

I am the howl of a grieving pack
I am the silence answering back

I am the breeze, wild and free
I am the shade of the canopy

I am the rain broom sweeping the sky
I am a vixen with watchful eyes

I am the ripple in a peaceful lake
I am the day you don’t want to break 

I am the trail guiding the way
I am the storm that says, “not today”

I am the leaves that cover the path
I am the snow of the aftermath 

I am the balsamroot bright as the sun
I am the lightning who answers to none

I am the river that washes away
I am the rocks longing to stay

I am a bluebird singing its song
I am the crescent moon, waxing on

I am the darkness that says, “enough”
I am a bison, stalwart and tough

I am the earth who will always be
I am the strength of her memory

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Why now?

We get this one life, and I have recently taken a leap - leaving my career to find what is next. Writing feels meaningful. Words can teach us, connect us, inspire us, and I hope that my words can bring these things to you.

What can you expect?

This is what my Substack is all about.

You are key to its success. Ultimately, I hope to build a community - one in which we can grow together and notice how life’s subtle wisdom connects us all.

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