The Intimacy of Earth
resides in every heart beat
in every rhythm, in the pitch of
darks, in the pain
of light shocking a pupil
in flower’s humble arch, in
the brutal unknowing
of how & why, in the
language of time created
to grieve these mysteries
this planet holds like
laughter in church –
spinning & spinning
its dervish delights
goosebumping our skins
into stardust, infinite
energy we name love
is in it, on it, with it
at our worst, unrequited
& at our best…devoted
to its healing despite our
weaknesses
VANESSA SHIELDS, writer 