Grass Roots

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Susan L Daniels

Do not discount
what grows everywhere
and thrives
independent of whether it is poisoned
or fed, pulled or not pulled

it keeps coming back

this underfoot awareness
of voices linking
in a murmuring chain

voices that feed each other,
tangling, twining
a network slowly catching fire

at the soil level, where it is dry
and ready;
a force to run away from
if you are in its way

ask anyone
who has fought a prairie fire
and lived

About Susan L Daniels

I am a firm believer that politics are personal, that faith is expressed through action, and that life is something that must be loved and lived authentically--or why bother with any of it?
This entry was posted in New Free Verse and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

12 Responses to Grass Roots

  1. nelle says:
    June 26, 2012 at 1:22 am

    Grow those roots! I hope the call to take back spreads, but I wonder if enough visible harm happens such that people understand what is being pulled out from under them. Lets hope.

  2. Jeremy Nathan Marks says:
    June 26, 2012 at 2:06 am

    I like the image of the prairie fire (for me, it is definitely a symbol of the sublime).

    I think the reason that the Great Plains, deserts and the ocean appeal to me as much as they do is because of how much life they contain and how subtle they are to the imperial eye. So, I “dig” what you’re saying here very much. 🙂

    • Susan L Daniels says:
      June 26, 2012 at 2:12 am

      🙂 Thanks, Jeremy–love the comment–the subtlety here I feel is indicative of its flexible permanence–something that will “grow back” regardless of what is done to it–even if it self-ignites or immolates. I think it is a both a destructive and purifying image, and also one of life, both old and new–and, yes, sublime.

  3. Ian Moone says:
    June 26, 2012 at 3:45 am

    I really liked how you ended this to

  4. Noel Ihebuzor says:
    June 26, 2012 at 8:15 am

    warning is duly served! strong and the image of the prairie fire – just wnderful, no, awesome!

  5. Green Speck says:
    June 26, 2012 at 10:21 am

    Beautifully conveyed 🙂

  6. jomul7 says:
    June 27, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    Nature does indeed rebirths itself out, not totally the same, but still in some shape or form, there’s a rebirth. There’s always lessons to be learned even from prairie fires. Thanks for this!

Comments are closed.