Spirit

The savage answer

To the choking system

A belief in reality

The nature of the world

As it turns on axis

And relinquishes changes

Expected by science,

The result a belief

In the ever changing atmosphere

A reliance on

The changes coming

With the seasons

We crave,

The chill of first snow,

The crisp leaves

Fading to brown,

The heat of a burning sun

And the green of a growing forest-

We pause our dependence

On the unknown,

The questioned,

The invisible

As we develop our world

And step back

Towards the old ways

Turning nose at

The scrutiny and selfishness

Of a world run by money,

A pharmacy ruled not by health

And fact

But by lined pockets,

We turn back

To the fields

And running streams,

We plant the seeds

And learn their meanings,

We count the seconds between

Thunder and lightning,

And water ourselves

With the rain we capture,

Nourishing our minds,

Our Spirit

As we remember

Our ancestors before.

Katrina Thornley is a nature poet. novelist, and freelance journalist that resides in Rhode Island. She has two poetry collections currently published, a novel, as well as a short story anthology. Her poetry collections "Arcadians: Lullaby in Nature" and "Arcadians: Wooden Mystics" were inspired by a local park and life in her small rural town. You can find them on Amazon now!

Also, be sure to give her a follow on Instagram (@seekatwrite).