by Laura Parker Roerden
A river of loss can still bring one home
to an ocean, where brine
buoys and anchors us, as if connected
to a larger vessel by a line.
A pond in a clearing can mirror
our hearts like a palm extended
connects to arteries and carries blood
from places deep and well hidden.
A glass of water can magnify
quenching a thirst for here
and for now, absorbing
like peace on our tongues.
Rain from a storm can purify blood
spilled by our ancestors on fields of war;
like a drum beat by beat stitches
our soles to the ground.
Waves from the sea should convince us
of rhythms once ancient and present, that
dimly pulse of both decay and renewal.
The water awaits and seeks only
a quest to purify in return.
© Laura Parker Roerden 2017
Laura Parker Roerden is the founding director of Ocean Matters and the former managing editor of Educators for Social Responsibility and New Designs for Youth Development. She serves on the boards of Women Working for Oceans (W20) and Earth, Ltd. and is a member of the Pleiades Network of Women in Sustainability. She lives on her fifth generation family farm.
Beautiful!