to people of color who want to spend time outdoors
you deserve this
you deserve
to go to the woods for a hike
to go to a river for a paddle
to go to the crag for a climb
to go jump in the ocean
to go play in mountain snow
to spend a few hours
or a few precious days
or a few precious weeks
outside
away
to not hear the latest news
to not learn of the latest atrocity immediately
you are allowed to not be connected
to the pain in this world
all the time
you are allowed to seek
quiet and healing spaces
to succumb to the urge
to be with the earth
to allow weather to challenge
and heal us
to be reminded that our bodies and our spirits
have knowledge and memory of joy and oneness
that we can honor trauma
and move past it
allow yourself breath
let fresh air
clean water
open space
dark skies
rekindle our cellular memory
of connecting to the earth
our recreation
is part of
re-creation
of creating
a world
more just
more livable.
from my chapbook ‘why don’t we know each other’ (2017)
narinda heng 