It Matters How We Do This

Stand here in the heat, in the hot and blazing heat of morning that feels as if it is ten times hotter than it should be.

Stand here in the smoke that is as dense as fog; that flies south from the Northlands which seems are all on fire. 

Stand here and hang your head in silence. Open your heart to the anguishing world that is coming undone - COMING UNDONE.

In this same space remember with joy, the countless days you have stood here with rain and foxes, and spindly legged fawns.

Times before the troubles.  But know this.  It matters how we do this.  Acknowledge the anguish; and acknowledge the joy.

For grieving goes this way.  To ignore the sharp pain of loss would not be kind to the owl, the bear, and the ginseng; nor the fireflies.

It would be an affront to the children born this day.  An outrage to all our relations.  It matters how we do this.