An Earth Day offering: Natural Habitat

A poem (from my book, Murmurations)

This is one of those poems that came into my mind almost fully formed—a gift from the universe, as I was out walking in what was then my natural habitat; the nature reserve the Oostvaardersplassen. Like almost everything in the Netherlands it is flat, regulated, man made. But there is grace and beauty in this place too. With its waterbirds and wild horses, and a genuine wish to connect with and take care of nature.

This poem came to me, I feel, as a reminder that we are part of nature and nature is part of us. It is a symbiosis and an unbreakable bond. It is not something we can put ourselves above. It is a gift. One we are completely dependent on for survival. This is our natural habitat, our home, just as it is the home to so many. Let’s try to take better care of each other.

Wild cherry growing in-between the branches of an oak. Photo by me.

Natural habitat

Here, we see the poet
in her natural habitat;
pen scratching against paper,
caught up in the moment,
tea going cold, light dimming
As if she was
born for this

Here, we see the hiker
in her natural habitat;
treading softly through the grass,
fingers purple with berry juice,
answering the birds
As if she was
born for this

Here, we see the swimmer
in her natural habitat;
cutting swiftly through the waves,
diving like a dolphin,
as natural as breathing
As if she was
born for this

And she was.

And we are
born for this
Of this
Earth
Womb, water, words

We are born for this
This is our natural habitat.