Earthbound

Little Snake River
Bull Pasture, Routt County, Colorado
photo by Pat O'Toole
Earthbound
This spring my heart, these rocks my bones,
This earth my flesh, this river blood.
My roots reach down, embrace the stones.
This whetstone land, how fine it hones
My roughened edge, smoothed as I stood.
Heart’s well-spring, these rocks my bones.
I heard the croons of ancient crones:
“This land your soul, from sky to mud.
Roots reach down, embrace the stones.”
You give your soul, it only loans
All you need, sustaining food,
Your well-spring heart, your rocky bones.
My sighs and laughter, wind entones,
This rain my tears, these streams my blood,
My roots reach down, embrace the stones.
My heart-strings strum its throbbing tones
With wind and water, rocks and wood,
With well-spring heart, with rocks my bones.
My roots reach down, embrace the stones.
Sharon Salisbury O'Toole

Comments
Quite lovely, Sharon. Your Villanelle is perhaps one of the most beautiful I’ve ever read, reread and reread again! All the land-based elements put to music, it sings for all of us – just fantastic!!
Posted by: John Dofflemyer | September 13, 2007 1:26 PM
That was wonderful Sharon.
Posted by: Robin Boies | September 24, 2007 1:34 PM