In the spirit of reawakening and restoring our heart and soul connection with nature in 2015, John Roff’s poem While We sleep reminds us that even as we sleep nature is vibrantly awake. To attend a Poems and Spirit event see invite at the end of this article.
Creation's YES by A Rocha
`While we Sleep’
While we sleep,
whole worlds of life erupt
beneath, around, above
our dreams.
Moles nose up to
pluck down grubs.
Bats weave hidden paths
among high branches.
Owls shape silence
into feathered balls
and hunch down
over fence posts.
Clouds of fireflies
shred the darkness.
And as we fold the evening’s washing,
somewhere close, on a moonlit plain,
elephants are quietly folding bark and leaves
into their soft receptive mouths.
About the author John Roff. “I write to draw attention to the sheer beauty and wonder of life, and the daily miracle of sharing this world with millions of glorious living things. This poem was written entirely from my imagination – I have had many experiences in wild places in Southern Africa, and in my mind I saw and felt the elephants simply carrying on with their ordinary yet marvellous lives in the wild free places north of where I live. “
Poets: John Roff, Laurie Gaum, Allen Goddard & Sally Argent
Reproduced from`Creation’s YES!’ an anthology of poems that say YES to Creation.(Edited by Heather Johnston and published by A Rocha.) Creation’s YES was inspired by a writers workshop hosted by A Rocha in 2012. The five poets whose poems capture the freshness of Creation met for a further 3 years to share their passion for the environment and poetry. Creation's YES is the fruit of their inspiration. “Poems like God open something for you in the ordinariness of the moment,” shared Allen Goddard on of the poets.
Poems & Spirit Event : Attend a poetry reading including poems from Creation’s Yes read by the authors at the Centre for Christian Spirituality**’s** Poems & Spirit Event. The Centre for Christian Spirituality invites you listen to Sally Argent, Carel Anthonissen, Susan Groves and Laurie Gaum share some of their published poems.
Tuesday, 27 January, 7.30 pm Centre space, 1 Chapel Lane, Rosebank R30 will include light refreshments Books including Creation’s Yes will be for sale. RSVP to Suzanne at info@christianspirit.co.za or 021 686 1269
SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute) is a multi-faith organisation committed to supporting faith leaders and their communities in Southern Africa to increase awareness, understanding and action on eco-justice, sustainable living and climate change.
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