Mae V. Cowdery, "Of the Earth" (1928)
Is earth's mouth . . .
She thrusts her lovely
Sun painted lips
To the clouds . . . for heaven's kiss.
A tree
Is earth's soul . . .
She raises her verdant
Joyous prayer
To the slowly sinking sun
And to evening's dew.
She flings her rugged defiance
To hell's grumbling wrath
And deadly smile;
Then rustles her thanksgiving
To the dawn.
A river
Is earth's tears . . .
Flowing from her deep brown bosom
To the horizon of
Oblivion . . .
O! Earth, why do you weep?
Published in Carolina Magazine, May 1928