I felt Kinship with the Worm
I was digging in the garden
I spied a worm crawling in the soil,
I couldn’t help but feel kinship
With this creature that I once reviled,
I like to dip my toes in the warm soil,
Like the worm enjoys crawling
On the warm soil on a warm day,
I enjoy eating fresh lettice
Like the worm even though it has no teeth,
I enjoy a cold drink of water,
Like the worm when he is thirty,
I enjoy the warmth of another person’s
Touch like the worm when it writhes
Against other worms,
I am no so much different
Than the worm,
Either I despise the worm and also myself,
or love the worm as myself as a brother,
What a revelation!
We are all equal creatures of God,
All people animals, insects, plants,
Stars and planets...
I went back to digging in my garden,
But now I was careful not
To injure my brother worm in the process.
