Photo: popsci.com Labeled for noncommercial reuse.
Surrender
“When he fixed the foundations of the earth,
then was I beside him as artisan;
I was his delight day by day,
playing before him all the while.”
Proverbs 8: 29-30
In 2008, we returned home from the Southern California desert with rattled nerves, having experienced a 7.3 earthquake centered not far from us. Our expectation of relief shattered immediately. Reno was experiencing swarms of temblors, upward of 100 daily. True, they were not that large on the Richter scale, but because they were caused, most likely, by excavation of the foothills for yet another residential development, they were quite shallow and the effect on our multi-level home was that of a truck slamming into its façade. Jumpy, tense, frightened, edgy—so many adjectives to describe our state of being.
It was to Mother Earth, to nature, that I fled—discovering solace in her damp spring soil. Touching timelessness in her body, listening to the songs of birds, the humming of bees, inhaling surrender in the loveliness of lilacs and roses. Nature trusted that all would be well because creation was in the care of its Creator. Today, when those smaller emotional or spiritual earthquakes disrupt my well-being, it’s in the garden or walking the dogs along the river that I find harmony, as well as the source of my own creative energy.
Mockingbird utters
songs of trust that have no words—
earth’s sweet harmony.
Please join us at dVerse for Haibun Monday where we are sharing those things that give us serenity.
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
Such a descriptive way to show the contrasts the earth and power of nature brings us.
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inhaling surrender in the loveliness of lilacs and roses
Nature is indeed a great restorative.
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There is no ignoring Earth when her belly rumbles. It’s a serious reminder that we are renters, not owners, of this planet. We best treat this precious property with the care and respect She deserves.
Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood are both rumbling these days–lots of mini-tremors. I don’t know how common this is, although I didn’t hear these reports last year. Hmmm.
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walking the dogs along the river that I find harmony,
as well as the source of my own creative energy
At 7.3 it is pretty strong. It is most traumatic and frightening just to get over it. One suddenly realises how blessed it is for one to be able to enjoy simple things in life after that. Yes, even stimulating the creative juices! Thanks for sharing Victoria!
Hank
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The natural world, the best recipe for peace of mind. Your seismic experience must have been terrifying.
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Songs of trust by songbirds, indeed. We hold onto our faith and while the earth shakes and the mind quakes, there is solace in the garden, in the soil. It must have been an unsettling experience!!
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The walk, the motion, deliberately getting in contact with what is important and would remedy the anxiety. Wisdom.
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I love the contrasts and awareness that you include in this poem, from tremors to peacefulness.
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The narrative in your haibun today is very engaging– I like how you have your audience fully invested in the struggles and stressors of your life, before describing how you seek solace from them, creating a palpable sense of relief that mirrors your own. Two images are especially impactful: “inhaling surrender in the loveliness of lilacs and roses” and “songs of trust that have no words”
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Nature- the great healer… like the use of “spiritual earthquakes”….
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I’m so glad you could find peace and comfort in the arms of Mother Nature, Victoria. Your haiku is a beautiful ending to a touching story.
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I would be a ball of nerves in those conditions too, Victoria. Finding sanctuary in nature’s grounding earth seems…well, so natural. I love your haiku as well.
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“songs of trust that have no words”
— I love this, Victoria, in the context of your hands plunging into earth to find peace…and in the knowledge of the verse in Romans that says His spirit intercedes for us in groanings, when we don’t know how to pray. We need only sing, and trust. LOVE.
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I also really like the haiku at the end.
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I love your ending haiku.
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I specially admire the return to mother nature as a solace and harmony ~ Your second stanza is a lovely ode to nature and I love earth’s sweet harmony ~
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Seriously.. iTs
trUe.. it’S eVen
iN the good book
titLed.. “A History
of God’.. pAge 8..
the first name
for God iS
Lahmu and
Lahamn
meaning
silt as
water and
earth sTiLL
miXed toGeTheR
and per my last bLog
posT thAT mY friEnd..
iF you kNow the wHole
story of ‘mY’ name.. is iroNic
as both Heaven and Hell.. togeTher..
iN oNe hUman BEinG aS DeViLAndAngEL..
SynchroniciTy
SinGs LaYman teRms
iN aweSoMe wHole waY..;)
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Just the scent of the soil brings a delightful sense of all-is-right-with-the-world; Thank you for sharing this wonderful scene!
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I think that one word exemplifies relaxation for me… harmony. Us becoming one with our surroundings; true peace. I like this work, Victoria!
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“solace in the damp spring soil” – that’s why we say things are “grounding”.
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/solace in the soil/–wow, so bang on. We all need to return when we can to our Mother, & caress her, & listen to her advice. A terrific stirring haibun, capped deliciously with your fine haibun.
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Oh yes! I love how you go to Mother Earth for peace and calm. The trust in our Father and Creator. The trust in the earth. No pun intended, but taking that earth into our hands and holding it, feeling it, truly does ground us. Nature seems to be the calming, relaxing thread so far. What joy. I love your haiku.
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This is a wonderful on how you find that solace in the soil, and also how that tension of the tremors loosens by the strength of soil.. gardens, streams and birdsong are wonderful healers.
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