rocks & rivers

The great northern pines cover this earth – a forest primordial - everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
And, in the middle of nowhere are rocks – big and wet and slippery rocks.
And around these rocks flows water – clear and gentle and quiet water.

Long ago, these trees and these rocks and this water were secrets – nothing – nowhere.

The waters tumbled over those rocks and fed the stream that fed the lake that fed the river that fed the ocean that fed the people, and no one knew it was there.

But we knew it was there.

We splashed in its beginnings.
We fished in its footprint and fed all of our children.
We sent prayers to the spirits and thanks to our ancestors,
We celebrated its’ existence.

Then he came and you came and they found the water.
The great explorers came and conquered the savage lands.
You found the rocks.
You heard the quiet.
You fed your children, with thanks to no one but your very own God.
You pretend that we are not here.
We are your great secret – the invisible people in the forest.

Long ago, these trees and these rocks and this water and our prayers to the spirits where quiet secrets that fed the earth.
And this earth fed us in return.

Today, crowds of feet cross through these water – infant and ancestor.
Scores of people feed their children from these rivers and lakes.
Some people send prayers of thanks to their gods.

And we are still here, like the rocks in the water– silent in the great northern pines that cover this earth – a forest primordial – everywhere and nowhere at the same time.