I AM CEDAR
H. W. Bryce
I speak for my elders. I speak for my children.
I am Red Cedar. I am 859 years old.
Do not harm us, for we are the lungs of your world.
—
Beware, that even now, you destroy our mutual world. Your pollution and reaping
Are killing our elders. They are a thousand years old, and more. They have given you
The oxygen of your life.
—
Please do not wield your axe on me,
Do not chain saw me down, I and my
Brothers and sisters are the glue,
The manna that
Keeps Gaia in good health.
We are the keepers of the wisdom;
We are the branches of the lore
Of the ages that guide us from life
To life and that guides our children.
Do not risk losing this wisdom.
Do not scrifice knowledge with your axe.
The fire you start will burn out.
I spread my arms out to you in warm
Welcome and mutual respect. We came
First and we welcomed you; our arms
Are still open to you, but please, do not
Hurt us.
Our wood has givcen you shelter,
Our branches have given you warmth,
Our roots have conserved your water;
We are Cedar; we are life. Brother Wind
Sighs his prayers through our needles and
Through our leaves, whispering good will
To all living things. Do not make him angry;
He can also destroy. Keep your sparks and your
Fire safely away; Brother Lightning will come
In his time and take us to refresh us. Gaia
Knows; listen to her, please.
—
Listen, you “masters of man,” do not
Cull your people, do not tear them down,
Coop them not up but nourish them, feed
Them with respect and love in dignified
Manner and mien; they will thank you in
Their productive lives and you will reap
A rich harvest. How have you not learned
This in all the millenia past? Awake. Love
Is always better than hate.
I, Red Cedar, have learned this to be true.
It is the Gaia Way. Follow the footsteps
That have trodden her pathways.
This is the true way.
