One day I hope to teach my children
the art of letting go
by jumping in fallen leaf piles
and then thanking the maples for their grace
of shedding what is meant to be shed.
One day I hope to teach my children
the art of reciprocal relationship
by planting a three-sisters garden
where the beans grow up the corn stalk, harvesting nitrogen,
and the squash spills over the empty soil, shading out weeds,
each taking what they need and giving what they can in mutual benefit.
One day I hope to teach my children
the art of fierce protection
by laying in the soil underneath a California Bay,
a tree that secretes chemicals through its roots
to prevent another from encroaching on its space.
One day I hope to learn from my children
how to play again for the sake of playing
by letting them run free
among their greatest teachers,
the maple leaves, corn stalks, beans, squash, and bays.
Day 14 Poetry Challenge :: Write about what you want to pass along to the younger generation.