earth

Sanctuary of love

~ ~M ~ 19 Comments

As the day drifts by,
I sit alone,
lost in the land
of blackened stone.

But the air is clear,
and the sky is blue,
and it’s the glory of this place
that sees me through.

If I’m stranded knee-deep,
stuck in regret,
this is my chosen place
to toss my net.

Then I sit and wait
for my mind to lift;
a gentle breeze
allows my thoughts to shift.

My quest for answers
consumes my brain,
but sitting here stills
what my body can’t tame.

Then I forget the years
and the people I know
and allow the earth
to choose where I go.

Whispers of peace
tickle my ears,
reminding me to let go
of all of my fears.

And the day carries on
as I jump to my feet,
seeing the good
in everyone I meet.

Blessed for the time
I’ve had in this place,
a sanctuary of love
filled with grace.

© 2022 Michelle Cook

Only One Earth

~ ~M ~ 23 Comments

I walk upon your rugged valleys;
I dance upon your golden shores.
Your unwavering resplendence
is what compels me to explore.

You’re a spinning top of wonder,
a creation whose pleasing to the eye,
and during my many excursions,
I’ve often stood in awe and cried.

Words just can’t describe you;
the heart of you cannot be explained.
And those who notice your glory
tend to stop and rollick in your rain.

Some seek to protect your beauty,
and yet others see a never-ending chore,
but those who truly love you
would do anything to make you more.

The magnificence of your vastness,
the provisions you supply the world for free,
are never taken for granted
by those who consider all they see.

You are everyone’s big ball of brilliance,
your grandeur spills out over the land,
and you will always be protected
by those who are willing to take a stand.

Written by, Michelle Cook

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/earth-solar-sun-moon-universe-1281025/

*Written for World Environment Day in response to the campaign slogan for 2022, “Only One Earth.”

Earth

~ ~M ~ 38 Comments

I’ve trudged along your rocky outcroppings
and gathered your weathered body in my fist.

I’ve seen the many layers of you erode over time
and sought solace in the beauty of your unexplainable existence.

I’ve discovered all I am in the vast valleys of your heart
and stood in awe as your snow-capped peaks towered over me.

And there’s never been a single day that I haven’t wept in your glorious presence
because your divine nature pulls all my sorrows right out of my soul.

© 2022 Michelle Cook

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/beach-red-hot-heat-extreme-desert-3444038/

Stop and Listen

~ ~M ~ 15 Comments

geese-2809000_1280

Stop and listen
Hear the sound
New life teeming
All around

Look at the fields
The sky, the earth
All so lovely
Full of rebirth

Listen to the ocean
And the stoic geese
Notice the beauty
Find your inner peace

See the world
Through brand new eyes
What you observe
Might be a surprise

Stop for a moment
Catch your breath
Plenty to live for
Before life meets death

© 2019 Michelle Cook

The century of certainty

~ ~M ~ 5 Comments

late

The days slipped away
Melting into the backdrop
And the past became the past
Fading into the indistinct landscape

A purple haze silently settled
Over this strange new horizon
And yet only a chosen few noticed
The significance of the change

It was the beginning of a new age
Soon to be known as the century of certainty
And the fragrance of newness
Infused the land with vitality and rebirth

Victory was on the threshold
Just waiting for her opportunity to pounce
Gushing with foresight
Trembling with anticipation

And in oblivious disarray
And also in light of all that was occuring
The commoners of this neoteric society
Blindly marched ahead

They stumbled in the dark
Towards an unknown fate
As the world made preparations
To swallow them whole

Mother-nature flashed an approving grin
And the earth shook in eagerness
For the end was finally near
A look of pleasure crossed both their faces

© 2018 Michelle Cook

For a full month of writing prompts, click here!  The century of certainty