In solitude, I rest in darkness
Enclosed inside my hardened outer skin 
The cool earth surrounds me, 
protects me, gives me stability
I feel its abundance all around me
Holding me, feeding me

Slowly I breathe in
the air piercing my shell
a breath of clarity, a moment of knowing
and there is a change in my being 
I receive the message 
A signal of beginning 

I feel the warmth 
It draws me, pulls me, calls to me
Its illuminating fire caresses me
sparking imagination, igniting intuition, fueling inspiration 
Passion burns for the future, 
scented with promise 

Droplets fall
Clear taste of rain
I drink them up
Nourishing, quenching, refreshing
Love and creativity flow around me
Water of life seeps into me 

My spirit soars
As I burst forth
Expressing myself 
In a myriad of ways
Opening to the experiences around me
I see the world and am filled with gratitude and joy

I have arrived 

Neysa Peterson April 2023

*Neysa submitted this powerful poem to the blog last year for Earth Day, but health constraints prevented me from posting it until today. My apologies to our audience and to Neysa. -Bean