Barrier Reef

By Gretchen Martens

Tiny universe

Life from nothingness

An oasis in the sea

Delicate miracle

Pristine, innocent

Wisdom of 485 million years

Generated by the tides

Strength from your trials

A rainforest in the sea

Interdependence, beauty

Wild diversity

Coexisting in peace

Cycles of birth and death

Speaking an ancient language

Inaudible to the entitled

Withering for lack of witnessing

A reminder of our own fragility

Barrier reef

Ancient microcosm of life

What are you inviting me to?

You who thrives in deprivation

You who strengthens from violent tides

You who are both tenacious and fragile

You who welcome interdependence

You who generously give of your Self

You who nurtures and shelters the innocent

You who stay rooted in stillness and movement

You who accepts the cycles of life

You who speak truth and mystery

You who finds tranquility in coexistence

You who prospers in otherness

You who claims resilience in diversity

Mangrove, was written by Gretchen Martens and originally published in House of Peace. Watch Gretchen read Barrier Reef.