I laid my head on the ground
this ancient ground
this sand made of as-close -to-infinity-as-you-can-get
little shell particles of limpets
who find their home on a rock and grow with it
circles upon circles of growth like a tree's.
They leave their rock at high tide to feed and glide
but leave a return trail for themselves
to find their way home again before high tide
and the gulls come.
Their rock, their home, their protection, their anchor
with the rhythms of the sea
they expand
and ground
simultaneously
I laid my head on the ground
like the humble sheep taught me
accepting what is given-
steady support of this great Mother, Earth.
And then sun warmed my curled, tired body
still at last after so much
movement
travel
change
Free as the waves that moved softly
in and out
hushed
lulling me to sweet sleep
I raised my head up off the ground
content
and moved my body
once more
Read by Liz Frisbee