IN THE MULTIVERSE OF EARTH DAYS
there are many ways this goes:
there are those perversely celebrated as Earth’s end of days
there are those commemorated in reverse, spreading litter, digging up trees
there are those celebrated as birthdays, vine streamers, sunlit candles beaming
there are those celebrated as Talk Like The Earth-Day, where everyone’s just screaming
there are those shared with the actual Earth, reclaiming some meaning
there are those honoring Earth’s original protectors, Indigenous Native peoples Earth defending
there are those offering a completely white politic rendering
there are those stinging with each wave of oppression spreading around
there are those that ring-in the moment (with consent) by kissing Earth, each other, the ground
there are those convened with gifts, small things, hand-made, out of love
there are those where the gift is said to give back to Earth, or- well, kind of…
there are those where the gift is not the point, but here, for you, you get a gift
there are those where you’re supposed to ask forgiveness and mend the rift
there are those where the Work is actually Rest, where the Fight is actually Care
there are those convened the best, like an honest-to-Earth gratitude prayer
there are those cherished in streets, together, teaching each and demanding better
there are those where we take back the streets, together, against extreme whatever
there are those joyously celebrated for all we honestly gain
there are those celebrated as Earth’s new beginnings
there are those commemorated in cleaning, planting, and protecting
there are those courageously carried through time’s multiverse and time again
there are those lost in the multiverse of Earth Days— where, for us— Earth prays
there are those where every day is Earth Day, and that day is today.
— Adam Powers