(With breath cues and performative pauses)
(Inhale slowly —hold—exhale)
I believe…
(Small pause)
I believe if you listen—
and tune in—
A frequency will emerge—
attuned with the Mother:
(Inhale)
A vibrating hum,
A loud beating drum,
A steady, lulling trance
of remembrance.
(exhale—longer pause)
I remember oak… pine… and ash.
I remember the wiggling of toes in mud—
And the joyful squeal of glee
dipping into ice-cold water.
(pause—soften tone)
I remember the taste of soil.
I remember walking on hardened roots,
I remember cornucopias—
Overflowing with milk and honey.
(inhale—pause)
I remember a time when my ears—
long as your hands—
twitched beneath the stars—
catching every whisper in the dark.
(Exhale slowly—pause)
I believe in sea dragons and titans—
mountainous in form and old as time.
I believe in water nymphs
dancing across lily pads on tippy toes.
(pause—smile into the words)
I believe in golden and auburn autumn leaves
that swirl upon changing winds.
I believe in the fae and the little people,
In the trolls who sleep,
guarding mysterious truths.
(inhale—longer pause)
I believe in the crests of shelf mushrooms—
Their cosmic network,
interweaving,
connecting,
breaking down,
transforming.
(Short pause between each word above)
I believe the land is still calling.
I believe the trees have not forgotten.
I believe the wind still carries our names.
I believe the land forgives,
If we learn how to listen.
(exhale—hold silence)
Breathe now, my child,
and listen to the proverbial drums.
You are a child of the lands and sky.
Breathe, and remember.
Breathe deeply.
Awaken, my child.
(Bow the head —stillness)