In the hellscape of the world's
melting,
burning,
weaponizing,
wars,
hunger,
extinctions,
the endless tears,
and top to bottom hate...
Glory to you, O God,
who has given me this paradise place
which is my garden.
I bless you,
stepping over its threshold
and all who tend some large or little place
of growing and flowering,
of life and beauty.
In the breaking up,
tilling,
package-seed-sewing
and carrot thinning -
Bless you, O God!
In the kneeling,
standing,
bending,
reaching -
Bless you, O God!
In the taproot weeding,
daily dead-heading,
stone dig
and fragile transplanting -
Bless you, O God!
In a seed's success,
compost decay,
summer sun
and advancing storm -
Bless you, O God!
In the honey bee's absence,
bat disappearnce,
warbler song
and lily fragrance -
Bless you, O God!
In cloud assembly,
water freshness,
hand strength
and back fatigue -
Bless you, O God!
In soil dryness,
morning mist,
longer day
and comfort-breeze -
Bless you, O God!
In mottled rock,
mottled fawn,
forest edge,
and painted leaf -
Bless you, O God!
In insect buzz,
frog visitor,
chipmunk thief,
and berry ripening -
Bless you, O God!
In petal curve,
water-quench,
hybrid surprise
and shade gift,
Bless you, O God!
In the raspberry's red,
eggplant's purple,
basil's green,
and cornflower's blue,
Bless you, O God!
In aging tools,
linen shirt,
shade hat
and bright idea,
Bless you, O God!
