Though the seasons have gone awry
And we are out of sync with nature
Though glaciers and ice fields melt
And drought cuts swaths across Africa
Though waters rise in Bangla Desh
And obliterate Pacific islands
We lucky ones can still live on our sweet earth
And celebrate midwinter
Though we should buy less
And we are buying more
Though we should drive less
And the roads grow ever longer
We have begun to realize
The limits of our planet home
We have begun the huge turning
Back to a sustainable life
We have begun to find pleasure
Back in the simple things
The rosiness of dawn
The preciousness of bird song
The need for fertile soil
And seas teeming with diversity
The need to touch earth
And be around growing things
And so this winter
As humanity hovers at decision point
As we,
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Though the seasons have gone awry
And we are out of sync with nature
Though glaciers and ice fields melt
And drought cuts swaths across Africa
Though waters rise in Bangla Desh
And obliterate Pacific islands
We lucky ones can still live on our sweet earth
And celebrate midwinter
Though we should buy less
And we are buying more
Though we should drive less
And the roads grow ever longer
We have begun to realize
The limits of our planet home
We have begun the huge turning
Back to a sustainable life
We have begun to find pleasure
Back in the simple things
The rosiness of dawn
The preciousness of bird song
The need for fertile soil
And seas teeming with diversity
The need to touch earth
And be around growing things
And so this winter
As humanity hovers at decision point
As we, ourselves,
Pause between the old year and the new
We can make it a turning point
To commit to our sweet Mother Earth
Our time, energy and love
In actions that will give us
and our children’s children
a future.
—Kate Evans
