I consider the rocks

That crumble into sand

And minerals that, in turn,

Nourish up the plants,

And how they grow,

And how, every 3800 years,

When the planets are too close together,

Cataclysms come

And bury the plants with tidal waves

Of mud and sea and shells

And create fossils from the plants and animals

That were living on the earth.

Slowly the wind and rains erode,

And no stone is left unturned

By the Great Mother until

Everything is changed,

So that everyone gets a chance to

Trade moccasins

And walk a mile or two

In someone else's shoes,

And understanding is achieved.

Rocks will come to understand the plants,

Picnics will empathize with the ants.

I will understand you.

And someday maybe you can see 

Your way to understanding me.

-jenn