W E N S

For the EARTH, before it's too late...

WENS

 

 

west of east

is north,

where air and water meet

and ice flows

south, melting.

elephants are learning to swim.

east of west

is south,

where fire and earth meet

and wolves, chasing their tails,

must shed their skin.

north of south

is west

where air blackens

in dense fog

and earth is stripped

of life.

south of north

is east

where oceans turn acidic

and human consciousness

is consumed by extinction.

in all directions

the world will move on

never hearing a baby’s cry,

or giggle as it discovers

a floating butterfly.

                             ~~redzone 9.30.12

 

Note: The song embedded is called 'Yeha Noha' and means Prosperity and Happiness.. I used it for its irony.. this system of capitalism/imperiaalism is killing our planet and the future is NOT bright for the people and mature inhabiting it..  The white wolf you see in the video is me, my spirit animal...

Author's Note

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

This one has a Native American feel to it, Curt. Mystical expressions with a very important message. We have to take care of the world we live in if we want the beauty to remain. Well written. lydi**

[redflutterby]

You have touched by heart with this as my grandfather was Navajo indian. I cant hear the audio on my phone but is this the version sung by Kee Chee Jake? For those that dont know this comes from a portion of the Navajo Shoe Game Song.

I'm smiling here even though the wisdom behind your poem is sad. Are you part Native American Redzone? ;-)

[redzone]

A verysmall part.. tiny even... on my fathers side, his ancestors where Dutch and settled and then stole Manhattan, helping to extinct or push these people out... one of my great, great great grandfateres married an Native woman... I have a CD called Sacred Spirits and this so0ng is part of that album... I found it on youTube and embedded it in the poem... At youtube it does not give the name of the singer.. or more info.. I will look on my CD when I get home and let you know... I know something of the Navaho spitirtuality, the different curing dances and some of the origin stories... I also like to look into the different Native peoples who once roamed freely in this land... do you go to the pow wows at all?? Sometime tell me about your grandfather...

[redflutterby]

Ive been to one but not Navajo. Would love to go out west and see the reservations. Did you know they are a matriarchal tribe. The eldest women are respected for their wisdom. When couples married the man went to live with his wifes family...the opposite of most traditional marriages.

I do believe that is the same cd ive heard and the same singer.

My grandfathers story is shrouded in some mystery. I will share it with you sometime. ;-)

[redzone]

Yes from the myths of first woman ..would love to hear these stories if its not being too nosy.

[Frieda P]

I was looking for this, wasn't showing up in search. Goodie, I get to read it again. I was already listening to this enchanting chant music, it certainly makes your poem come alive. It's exquisite, albeit a bittersweet message. Your sad words make my eyes mist over, that ending killed me. Gorgeous and very affecting dear curt.

[Sami Khalil]

A wonderful message here with extreme urgengy to our earth and its inhabitants. Extinction is real if not stopped...Bravo...........