Let us be forest for each other

A spell to become bark and branch, needle, leaf, even stone

Looking up into trees, sunlight pouring through. Photo credit: my brilliant child

Today I learned that a poem I’d submitted for an upcoming anthology from Silver Press was not selected for inclusion. Silver Press is an independent, feminist publisher, creating truly beautiful and essential offerings - I hope you check them out.

In the meantime, I wanted to share the poem I submitted. That poem was a signficant update to one I’d shared in the previous iteration of this newsletter. The words below are yet another version, updated from my Silver Press submission, because why not endlessly play?

Dear ones, I hope these words offer some care and respite to you today. May these words be a spell, weaving us back into the world.

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Let us be a forest for each other

But first:
May we know our own heartbreak,
Eyes and fists that are clenched
Throats closing tight, ourselves and our kin

And then, but then -
Let throats open wide
Pouring out shouts of
Song
Lamentation
Joy, grief and delight

Let it fall from our eyes
Let it pour, seep, and soak
Become bark and branch, needle, leaf, even stone

Through our roots we entangle
And the center calls out:
Bodies be homes, be food and breath,
Bodies gather life, and too gather death
And of this rich stew, let us now make anew

And someday
May it be so,
When we fall let them eat
root and tendril, tooth and jaw
Body become bodies
Become life, old and new

Now our roots are braiding
And our branches are twining
Together weaving world, above and below

So let us be trees for each other
Let us be spreading web
Let us be crows flying, calling
Let us fruit, root, and rot

Let us be creeping, let us be winging
Let us be singing, weeping, and dancing

And finally, let us seed time in each other
Seed and unfurl and unfold in each other
Crack, break and become
Reaching ever and always toward each other
May we, Deep Time, be Forest for each other

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Offerings and events

My lovely friend Natalia and I are hosting a free Seed Circles Open House/Info Session tomorrow. If you’re in Portland, come by the sweet Flanders House to get to know us, Seed Circles, each other, and the space - and of course we’ll have snacks! If you can, please register so we have an idea of how many to plan for, but you’re welcome either way!

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Antidotes and seeds

• Let us stand together against those who would love to see our collective forest burned to the ground, if it means more power for them. If you’re in Oregon, join Oregon For All to stand with immigrants and refugees. If you’re not in Oregon, there is likely an organization near you of immigrants and those in solidarity, working for justice - please join and support them!

• Call on your Congress people - tell them to block the bombs and end the starvation of the people of Gaza.

• Give yourself 5 minutes (more if you can) to breathe, outside, without a screen in your hand, and perhaps with a tree by your side. I’m sending care and love to you.

  with love, heather

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