of Dust

Beloved, remember:

From dust
you have come--

not only
the dust of this planet
but also the dust
of the stars
for you and your Mother
Earth
share a common ancestor
and a common fate:
To dust you shall return

The Earth may
or may not
know her fate
Yet still she is busy
with her living--
Creating, renewing,
growing, transforming
Holding death and life
like twins in her womb

But you DO know
when you slow down
(And maybe that's why
you so rarely slow down):
You're destined for dust

The heat is growing
unbearably fast
Hold on with Earth
through the burning--
Create, renew, transform
and when it's over

may the dust that remains
shimmer with the vibrancy
your life inherited from the stars