Earth is too beautiful for one man’s rule,
For a single civilization,
For any one race or creed.
Earth shares herself freely, indiscriminately.
She does not discriminate
Whether you believe, see, hear,
Feel, taste, or comprehend her grace.

Earth will always share herself.
A lesson for woman and man alike:
Life is shared with all who breathe.

Have you cradled a seed, witnessing its awakening?
Parents and gardeners know this miracle well.

Have you ever extinguished a life?
Balance thrives in harmony’s embrace.

Take only what you need.
Give with open hands and heart.
Give thanks for what is here
And what is yet to come.

This is Mother Earth’s timeless example.
This is our home, our one people.
Our family’s legacy.
Our neighbors and all humanity.
It is us;
You and I are the living example.
The role models.

The fathers and the mothers.
The brothers and sisters.
Seek and you shall find the truth of our unity.

There is no surrender,
Only growth and abundance.
A few cannot dictate our shared destiny.
Always we,
Never us versus them.

Take only what you need.
Give with boundless generosity.
Give thanks for the present
And the promise of tomorrow.

Protect these wonders
For generations yet unborn,
Temporary guardians of nature’s majesty.

We are one world, one family,
One Earth to nurture wisely.
Tread lightly on her soil,
Live in harmony with her rhythms,
Embrace the sacred circle of all life.

Let our legacy be one of reverence,
Our footprints soft upon the Earth,
Our hearts beating in time
With the pulse of all creation.

The Web of Life

Naess writes, “The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman Life on Earth have value in themselves. These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes.” This echoes the poem’s lines, “Earth shares herself freely, indiscriminately. / She does not discriminate / Whether you believe, see, hear, / Feel, taste, or comprehend her grace.”

Isn’t it awe-inspiring how Earth connects us all in a grand, intricate dance of existence? This piece beautifully captures our relationship with our planet and each other.

The idea that Earth is too beautiful for one man’s rule reminds me of what Chief Seattle said: “The Earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the Earth.” It’s a powerful reminder of our place in the natural order.

When the poem speaks of Earth sharing herself freely, it echoes what ecologist Aldo Leopold meant by his “land ethic.” He wrote, “We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”

The notion of taking only what we need brings to mind what Mahatma Gandhi said: “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” It’s a call for sustainable living that respects Earth’s limits.

The image of being temporary guardians reflects what the Iroquois Confederacy called the “Seventh Generation Principle.” They believed that decisions should be made considering their impact seven generations into the future.

My call to “Tread lightly on her soil, / Live in harmony with her rhythms” reflects deep ecology’s principle of minimal interference with nature. As Naess states, “Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs.”

So what does all this mean? Perhaps it’s about recognizing our deep connection to the Earth and all its inhabitants. It’s about understanding that our actions have far-reaching consequences, not just for us, but for all life and future generations.

Remember, every choice we make can be an act of reverence for our planet. As environmental activist Wendell Berry said, “The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all, our most pleasing responsibility.”

So next time you interact with nature, consider: How can you act as a responsible guardian of Earth’s wonders? Because isn’t that what makes our existence on this planet so precious? This opportunity to live in harmony with nature, to be part of Earth’s grand story. Your actions, however small, ripple through the web of life. How will you honor our Mother Earth today?