Four births

A mother strong had birthed that day the sun, the moon, and stars.
She placed each one upon the sky—the night and day apart.
The waters from within her womb now baptized all the earth
With rivers, oceans, lakes, and streams, all products of that birth.
Another day, the mother bore all seeds of every kind,
Then planted them in soil enriched by water, blood entwined.
Each seed grew up so mighty, strong, warmed by the sun above,
And flowered, fruited, bounty grew, nourished by Mother’s love.
On the third day, from Mother dear, came fin, and wing, and paw.
“It is good,” our mother said, as she looked out and saw
The measure of creation made, each type and, too, each kind.
“But even ’mong my children here, there’re some I do not find.”
So on day four, she birthed once more, and out came those like her:
Her beauty, strength, persistence, brains, and meekness, courage sure.
Her creation now complete, she drew her children near:
The beasts, the fowl, the fish, the plants, the humans—her whole sphere.
She counselled them, “You all are one, through birth, and life, and death.
You take, you give, you show respect, in appetite and breath.”
And then she spoke specifically to those who she'd birthed last.
“Because you look and act like me, the torch to you I pass.
To you the role of gardener, to nurture and to grow,
To you the role of shepherd, too, each beast and bird to know.
To you the keeper of the sea, to keep it full of life.
To you protector of the sky, the source of breath and light.”
Concluding now her court divine, she shared a sacred truth,
“Your death is not the end for you; for yours’ a godly youth.
Just as I planted seed on earth, I planted seed in you,
A seed that grows with trial and curse, and wisdom, pow’r its fruit.
The roots that grow within your heart will reach up toward me.
The branches stretching out in faith, embrace eternity.
Divinity is in your past, your future it entwines,
For you, my children, each of you, is naturally divine.”