The land is dry.
Her throat stretched
strained through earth
dust lodged
she cries out for water
for rain
she yearns to water
to give water
to those she loves
those whose feet have stepped upon her
shaped her
as she shaped them
feet who tread softly upon her
walking in oneness with her
tendered to her.
She hungers to feed them.
She watches as they grow thin
grow weak.
She watches as they waste
helplessly
grieving
for her people.
She watches
as family kill another goat
eating their source of income
milk for their neighbours.
She watches
as child cries to mother for milk
Mother watches
helplessly
starved of milk production.
She watches as mother leaves her
Gone
eighteen hours
to collect water she used to provide.
She cries out to Sky
who stretches parallel to her
She cries out for clouds to gather
to swell with water
grow heavy
so heavy
they give of themselves
to her
saturate her
that water’s molecules
would seek their way
seep deep
draw themselves deep into her to nurture roots
to nurture plants
that plants would seek their way to surface.
I cry out
I ask of God
Can these dry lands live?
Can these dry lands live
since those dry bones lived?
My soul groans
strains
contorts
in prayer
Oh God can these dry lands live?
Can clouds gather
release
that she could drink deep
and her people could drink deep
and there would be relief?
The war continues
not only displacing people
but withholding grain from the world’s hungriest people
Interrupting supply.
Ukraine
provided 30% of the grain
to the world’s hungriest people.
In solidarity
with her stretched, strained throat
with her people
we cry out
we call upon our leaders
for compassion
to remain in compassion.
Let concern, resources
flow beyond self-interest
also to the interests of others.
Others
Is our compassion as dry as the land?
Our efforts as dry as the land?
10,000 children dying a day.
Let the dam dam break!
Let the dam dam break!
Let compassion run forth as a river
generosity.
Let mercy flow
in finance
in long-term investments
in solutions that would hold back
the impact
of climate change
impacting
those
who are most
vulnerable the most
We pray for change
we sit in the dust
with her
we grieve.
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