Soil has its own voice
whispering across the globe
continents and river banks
backyards and grassy plains
valleys and mountains

sibilance softly alluring
its universal voice calls
to plant in its warming humus
to sift rich loam through bare fingers
drop tiny seeds and swirl
until grains disappear

into soils of all shades
black and brown in Kansas
red in Oklahoma and Japan
Africa’s dark rose and palest green

hugging seeds and hope in symbiosis
cradling possibility until casings burst
and shoots with their tiny invisible ears
hear soil’s universal and welcome voice.