Whilst standing on a hilltop high
I heard the strangest sound
It echoed through the valleys
And drifted o`er the ground
It murmured, wistful, in the stream
And whispered through the trees
Still and lingering in the caves
Soft ushered by the breeze
I felt a stirring in my breast
A pain within my heart
Which filled me with great sorrow
And tore my soul apart
I`m sure I heard the sweet earth cry
Within my fettered mind
A haunting voice inside me
Spoke through these eyes so blind -
'I`ve cradled every one of you
In tenderness, so pure and true
Protecting each from pain and strife
A beauteous haven for your life'
'To nurture you is all I know
Helping each to live and grow
As kindred souls upon this sphere
As one, in peace, and free from fear'
'And yet you choose to torture me
Destroy my land, defile my sea
With hate, and ever growing greed
You trample down each tiny seed'
Then as the rain, like tears, spilled down
I heard her sad lament
Resounding through the universe
Such fearful discontent -
'Oh when will man, with open eyes,
Behold the splendour in the skies
To gently spread a healing hand
Across my hurt and ravaged land'
'And when will he become the balm
To hold my troubled waters calm
And soothe my trembling countenance
Upon my fields to laugh and dance'
This dream, with you, I hold within
Sweet earth, for this I know
That if we choose to tread this path
Then love will cease to grow
And step by step each passing day
Will take us surely on
Towards the end of glory, and
Towards the dying sun
Valerie Dohren
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-m-sure-i-heard-the-earth-cry/
