Arise, creatures furred and feathered
and let evolution turn once more.
Join your wisdom and conspire
to throw off the human yoke!
Awake, mighty trees and humble grasses
And patient roots stronger than rock
Crack through the concrete prison
that mankind has ringed around you.
Break forth, mountains--scarred valleys, cry out!
Grind the machines that tear at your heart.
Then shall every creature dance with joy!
Wolves shall howl and dolphins leap
And redwoods raise their branches.
Rise up, waters, in exultation
For the day of liberation is at hand!
Today the Earth shall open
and swallow Her oppressors.
Towers and malls and highways shall crumble
poison factories fall into darkness.
Hear me, people: if you would survive that day
you must give up your treasures:
vacations and Porsches and microwave ovens...
cast them into the Earth
into the Great Well of Sacrifice
And turn to embrance your Sister-Life.
Walk quietly in the forest
and listen to the trees dearming together.
What do they whisper?
Their quiet song has gone on forever.
"Be at peace. We will shelter you
And rock with you like a mother with her child."
Ah! If only this quiet forest
could be waked to anger!
If these gentle trees would conspire to say
"Enough! No more will be stand mute
and be slaughtered. Beware, chainsaw wielders,
or we'll fall upon you
and crush you with our branches."
O beloved mother forest,
if only you would wake
and save yourself.
The preacher came to church to say
"Friends, the Messiah wil come today.
I dreamed I saw Him surrounded with light
Clothed with justice, glory and might."
"My friends, he died for all our sins
He bears the scars upon his skin
All we like sheep have gone astray
Yet he will save our souls today.
The congregation all exclaimed,
"Come let us go to praise His name."
So they went to the mountain top
Their every earthly care forgot.
They strained their gazes toward the sky
To see that miracle on high
While far below them on the sea
A great Whale surfaced and broke free.
The Water splashed around Her bright
Like angels dancing in their flight
Her skin was pierced by harpoon scars
and yet Her countenance shone like stars
Her voice arose in keening song
"I suffered, children, for your wrongs
Yet though you've sinned against all that's living
Repent and you shall be forgiven."
1989
