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.