Poem ‘Inheriting the Earth’ by Lyndal Vercoe

It can hardly be said that we knew Her
although sometimes we breathed the same air,
Or we stood in a similar landscape,
Or we seemed to be speaking with Her.

But always She knew us: since we were amoeba
And followed our journey with loving attention
All our lives on this Earth, from amoeba to now
Our great Mother was seeking for us

And has loved us forever since that is Her nature. While we
Have been startled to find that She knew us:
We who were distracted with longing inside us, confused,
Not quite present, unable to settle,

Or even to value this beautiful Earth.
How She laughed, when She told us how much
We resembled the musk deer, which runs about
Franticly seeking the source of its perfume.

She found us and settled us, pulling us upright.
She soothed us and cleansed us and gave us new language.
She has brought us to God (while She taught us that love
Is the nature of everything) - making us heirs to His kingdom on Earth.