Mangrove
By Gretchen Martens
Sentient being
Living in symbiosis
With kinspeople
And wild creatures
Connected to the primordial oceans
Womb of all life
Resilience
100 million years
Bridging sea and earth
Strength in numbers
Subtle beauty
Wisdom of eons
Patiently forgiving man’s trespasses
Birthing and rebirthing
Her own ecosystems
Gracing humankind with hope
For redemption and reunion
Memory-keeper of at-one-ness
Sister mangrove
Ancient swamp dweller
What are you inviting me to?
You with your wildness
You with your untamed roots
You with your wind twisted branches
You who thrives in harshness
You who weathers tempests with grace
You who creates your own ecosystem
You who relinquishes Self
You who welcomes singularity
You who has mastered simplicity
You who are strong and resilient
You who live into light
You who offer hope
Mangrove, was written by Gretchen Martens and originally published in House of Peace. Watch Gretchen read Mangrove during Retreat House Spirituality Center’s interfaith prayer meditation.