By Marie-Louise Meyers

Nature hints so broadly with its colors,

sky, earth, and sea,

let no wand of power struck oversee

anything save diversity.

instead of remaining an island in bondage,

let there be fluidity,

and trust for the world never stands still 

but is in constant flux.  

There is a hold each finds comfort in

but a stronghold if you invite others in.

Even trees provide a watchtower above 

watching creatures who cross boldly below their shadows

or nesting in branches on high as if a test 

or in holes as if their very souls find sanctity,

never specifying which species should gain control.  

Imagine how boring birds on a deck

if all bedecked in red or blue solidifying them

instead of speaking in anthems separate and sweet.

What if there were only birch trees instead of fur,

beautiful in their white profiles.

Instead of crop rotations, only one vegetable grown

white as snow—Kohlrabi?  Bittersweet you know!

Already you hold your noses to think

so narrow a definition, neither should we be like-minded

for each one in their own way adds to the accented quilt of America.   

Imagine the sameness of features, faces and forms,

if we all adhered to our innate score card, native born

or from war-torn countries?

Alignment is confining, for the instrument conducive

to life’s perpetuity, reminding us to allow lucidity 

of every voice inviolate to penetrate.  

Every vision is a result of our separate incisions 

in a world made up of varied notions, 

sometimes imperiled

and with emotional outbreaks from time to time. 

How we slice and dice is born of inspirations

clothed in different patterns of devotion

based on our ancestry and experiences.

In unguarded moments we long to retain ourselves

from others who don’t think the same way as we.

Enlightenment means we must learn to get along 

though we sing varied songs,

each voice carries a resonance that defies even

the most brutal of winter winds

coming from an ancient place within

or newly minted coming to this country

or those who covered the tracks of those who went before.

Let them reign true over the world only they knew

for we truly owe them a debt of gratitude

providing an untrammeled easel,

save for the buffalo and sure fit to use the land

not abuse it giving docent power to man

but knowing full well it was the Maker

who bestowed the blessing. 

Together we create a colorful and rare quilt of intentions.

From Native American roots and Foreign nations,

Dad beat continuance into our brains,