It begins with one
A hundred
A thousand
A hundred thousand
A million.
A multitude of murmuring birds flying together
A savant wave of wings
Filling the sky with sound
And human minds with meditations on migrations.
We exist
not in parts
but wholes.
Whole bodies
Whole hearts
Whole generations
With whole dreams about their whole and holy future
We exist
not to flash but to sizzle
to fight with a heat
and love with a heat
and live with a heat
so strong it propels us upwards
despite the downdrafts of doubt
the blood push of fear
the shrapnel stabs of hate
We exist
Meditating on migration
The age of trees
The wisdom of whales
The majesty of seas
It begins with one
A hundred
A thousand
A hundred thousand
A million
A multitude of murmuring humans
Old young dark light
All faiths
All genders
All races
We exist not to divide but to join
not to blame but to build
not to surrender but to life up our arms
A savant wave of wings
flying upward and onward and forward
beyond today.
It begins with you.
Experience the premiere performance of We Exist set to music by Oliver Caplan at Time in Our Voices. June 22, 23, 24 - Boston, Concord, Plymouth.
Naseem Rakha, Author
Naseem Rakha is a geologist, educator, speaker, and award winning author and journalist whose novel, The Crying Tree, has earned international acclaim for its frank examination of crime, punishment, sexual identity and forgiveness. Naseem’s commentaries can be found in The Guardian and she was a contributor to National Public Radio. When not writing, Naseem spends her time hiking, climbing, rafting and photographing areas throughout the American West. Her work can also be found in the Los Angeles Review and Gold Man Review. Naseem is currently working on a new novel. She lives in Oregon with her husband and son, dog, cats and snake.
