Rewild
I want to learn to make a basket from twigs
and fill it with imperfect fruit
Let my hands gnarl around its handle
and age together in these woods
Juice seeps into the creases of my skin
canyons of color and years and work
Pine resin bonded to my palm
needles twined in my hair
bark caught on my clothes
freshest air I’ll ever breathe cycling through me
still here, still breathing
and now, shhhh
just be
still
My body recognizes this as home
the basket as kin
the trees as gods
Laura Kearney is an artist living in Asheville, North Carolina, which means she is fortunate enough to see the Blue Ridge Mountains every day. She aspires to share her appreciation for nature and support wildlife conservation through creating art. She has a wonderful partner, a sometimes-mischievous dog and two darling cats.