Revisiting the Earth Goddess

I.  The Dalles Mountain Ranch
    Earth Day May 16, 1993

 

I lay upon the great warm breast

of Mother Earth with hundreds more

to form a giant image of a woman.

It was May, the sky unmarred by clouds

The sun a scalding Klieg light above.

We flashed our mirrors at circling

helicopter whose camera sent our

sparkling image to the world.

We're here, our bodies said.

We love this earth.

II. The Dalles Mountain Ranch

    August 29, 2010

Off the road that other time

there was no wind like this

that rocks the car and stirs the

wheat that gilds these hills and

those far off across the Gorge.

Mount Hood shone bright that other day,

and now wears fluffy boa. But there

across the river, ancient stone is

black from recent man-caused fire.

We're here, dear Goddess Earth.

Keep us from loving thee to death.

Mary Schlick is a writer and basketmaker who has lived in New York City, on the Colville, Yakama, and Warm Springs Indian Reservations, in Washington, DC (three times), and in the upper Hood River Valley for the last 30 years. She has two published books and two wonderful children.