Article voiceover
Can you hear their whispers riding on the breeze? Through missiles and blasts, explosions of hot air Or does the noise cancel out growing fears Maybe they exhale wise strength, From roots pushing deeper and deeper over turbulent years Can you hear what they say, is anyone listening? The olives are dropping A soft pit pat Little ghost hands Cannot reach, grasp, catch Do they miss the heartbeats, pulsing steps Of the humans who hug and share their breath? Is anyone listening to their rustling leaves?
They are listening, they hear Grief, anger, anxiety fill the air Footsteps of friend, footsteps of foe Many years on this earth, this land no one owns But they sense the absence of those who do know How to care and tend for the land they call home The wheel is turning, but the humans don’t come Loud explosions shaking their trunks Little feet, little hands celebrating have gone No lengthening fingers with sun-kissed palms This season is quiet, empty Heartbeats replaced with drumming so scary Loud earthquakes that come from the sky Roots hanker down, do olive trees cry? Can you hear the whispers riding on the breeze? Explosions yell so loud, try to quiet tears cried out The trees are patient, their souls bear witness They carry the stories when ours fall on deaf ears Imprinted in wood, rings upon rings Un-fleeting, unyielding, strength in the wind Quiet your minds and listen With your water-filled body The vibrations travel Through the earth beneath your feet The wind has the whispers of cries from afar Just listen, maybe you’ll feel their rustling leaves Across many lands Whispers carried along with the breeze
What resonance! I just came across this poem of yours and it is so beautiful, Jessica!