Barren land

Barren land that calls to me
for the hope of awakening,
she lies poisoned
and dreaming
plant ruined and soil shot,
fauna fled and
time forgot.

But this is our earth
and our mother
we must bind the soil to nitrogen
and make mother earth
give of herself again.

Barren land that calls to me
salted with iniquity;
dried up lakebed and wretched soil
evidence of toil--heedless.
And this bed unsmooth
proves,
the benefit of any lake to you
where water diverted feeds carrots and greens,

and provides for so many amazing scenes.

But now needless.
And the seed that falls
breeds less
on the barren land.
Poorly planned ill-used and unblessed,

We live on the barren land
until we try to need less.

And find the abundant resilience
lurking
in the barren land.