Gentle wind, rough wind, our wind, no wind–

Many are the winds that help us.

One by one we sing a hymn to you, singing:

Help us appreciate our home.

Gentle wind, you massage the tree leaves,

Lead the rope bridge in a dance,

And make the hollow log moan for your kisses.

Help us appreciate our home.

Rough wind, knock out the windows of the churches,

Rake away villages, drum the earth

With uprooted coconut palms and sing:

Help us appreciate our home.

Our wind, you are the stranger’s breath

On the back of the neck, the gurgle of children

Farting in the bathtub, the tea kettle whistling.

Help us appreciate our home.

No wind, let the butterflies flutter in peace,

Listen to the still grass,

And smile at our hair as it falls straight down.

Help us appreciate our home!

Wind, you are two lovers breathing each other,

The nervous pant of the president,

And the cry of the window left open.

Help us appreciate our home.

Image Credit: Alvin Trusty

Rotting Silver is a column devoted to this Earth in all its tarnished radiance: poetry, prose, and parables of ugliness alloyed with joy.

This piece was first published at The Witch’s Voice.

The Author

B. T. Newberg:  Since the year 2000, B. T. has been practicing meditation and ritual from a naturalistic perspective. He currently volunteers as Education Director for the Spiritual Naturalist Society, where he created and now teaches an online course in naturalistic spirituality (including Naturalistic Paganism!). His writings can also be found at Patheos and Pagan Square, as well as right here at HP.

Professionally, he teaches English as a Second Language, and hopes to begin a PhD program in the psychology of religion soon.  After living in Minnesota, England, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, he currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife and cat.

After founding HumanisticPaganism.com in 2011 and serving as managing editor till 2013, he now serves as advising editor, and feels blessed to be a part of this community.