We breathe in
From nose up
To our mind,
And we exhale down,
An offering from mouth
To earth’s trees.
A very simple
beautiful cycle.
Delicate and vital.
One couldn’t exist,
If the other falls.
Earth provides the atmosphere,
We replenish it,
The balance is clear.
This Earth, a home,
Not ours to drain,
To plunder for profit,
For wealth and greed.
The chasm between
The rich and the poor.
Though all share
The same air to produce.
One atmosphere,
Enveloping all.
A borrowed breath,
A life returned,
In this resonant rhythm,
We are bound,
A reciprocal breath,
Sustains all life.
The Breath of Life
Isn’t it fascinating how something as simple as breathing connects us to the entire world? This piece really brings home the idea that we’re not just living on the Earth, we’re part of its very life cycle.
Think about that image of breathing in from nose to mind, and exhaling down to the trees. It’s like what the deep ecologist Arne Naess called the “ecological self” – this idea that our sense of self doesn’t stop at our skin, but extends to include the whole natural world.
And that delicate, vital cycle? It’s not just poetic imagery. It’s hitting on what scientists call the carbon cycle. We breathe out carbon dioxide, trees take it in and give us back oxygen. It’s like we’re in this constant dance with nature, each step perfectly timed.
Now, when it talks about the Earth not being ours to drain or plunder, that’s tapping into some heavy environmental ethics. It’s like what the philosopher Aldo Leopold meant with his “land ethic” – the idea that we’re not owners of the Earth, but members of its community.
The mention of the chasm between rich and poor, all sharing the same air? That’s not just social commentary. It’s echoing what environmental justice advocates have been saying for years. Air pollution doesn’t stop at property lines or national borders. We’re all in this together.
And that beautiful idea of a borrowed breath, a life returned? It’s reminiscent of what indigenous cultures have long understood about our relationship with the Earth. As Chief Seattle supposedly said, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
So what does all this mean for us? Well, maybe it’s about recognizing that every breath we take is part of something much bigger than ourselves. It’s a reminder that we’re not separate from nature – we are nature.
Remember, each breath is both a gift and a responsibility. As the environmentalist John Muir put it, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Your breath, my breath, the trees’ breath – it’s all part of the same grand cycle of life.
So next time you take a deep breath, think about where that air has been, where it’s going. It’s not just filling your lungs – it’s connecting you to every living thing on this planet. Isn’t that something worth protecting?