Dust

Dust poem by Iris Carden

"Dust you are and to dust you will return."

I am dust.
I am carbon and hydrogen and oxygen
and iron and calcium and nitrogen and phosphorus.
I am the stuff of soil and rock,
of plants and trees and animals,
of water and air.
I am the stuff of stars and planets.
I am the stuff of coral reefs and ocean depths.
I am the stuff of creeks and forests.
I am the stuff of clouds and wind and rain.

I am a part of the whole of creation.
What is good for earth and air and water 
and plants and animals
is good for me.
What harms earth and air and water 
and plants and animals
harms me.

I must tread softly on this earth,
for it is me and I am it,
and you and me are we,
and we are part of all that lives.
We are dust
and to dust we will return.
The earth feeds us
and nurtures us.
We will feed the soil,
and nurture the earth.
People and planet
must grow and work together,
because we are all dust.