The Unity of Life - By: Samantha Wood

The first law of ecology says that “everything is connected to everything else”. Living organisms work with each other for mutual benefit. Cycles link together, ending and beginning in perfect harmony. Mother Earth ensures that no living creature is left isolated and deprived of relation. The world is one single interconnected organism, and we are created with the beautiful balance of elements that preserve tranquillity and unity. The water I drink comes from the clouds, which were blessed by the numerous rivers, streams, and oceans. Therefore, the water I drink out of my glass has been inside all other living beings, in one form or another, tying us all together. I share this one simple component, that has repeatedly taken for granted, will all other living beings in this world.

This cyclic stance towards nature harbours some true findings. The trees that stand grandiose and dignified, bowing their heads to no one but the clouds, have communication with their siblings and other companions under the soil. The mycelium underground spreads fast and shares its life with millions of other organisms. Next time you walk on pure Earthen ground, imagine yourself awakening vast networks of fungi and roots, all aware of your presence and communicating with one another.

Though we tend to forget, humans come from the dirt of the world. Therefore, when we look within ourselves we see our connection to our Mother Earth. Deep within us, the lungs, nervous system, and veins all look like root networks. Our fingerprints match up to the linings in tree stumps. You’ll find a pattern of spirals throughout the natural world and across our bodies. The golden ratio, a special ratio number equal to 1.618, which takes the form of a shell-like shape, can be found in various aspects of nature and the human body. Beautiful crystalline structures dug up from the earth match our unique irises. Our physical selves have so many connections to the natural world. It reminds us that we’re never truly alone; that we will always belong to the Earth.

When I ponder the interrelation of nature, I immediately think of red salmon. Red salmon are born in freshwater rivers, then live most of their lives in saltwater. Eventually, when they are ready to reproduce, they migrate back to their birth-river, to lay their eggs and die. How beautifully macabre, to die in the same place you were born. To make the agonizing journey back to your home, where you will soon give up your body for your children. The journey takes so much out of these fish, that by the time they lay their eggs, their bodies are already rotting and deteriorating. But as their hearts slow, they have nothing but pride in their accomplishments. Their journey was not a failure.

The pollination process is what I think of next. How bees and flowers work together to create their goals respectively. Bees extract nectar from the flowers, so the flowers provide the bees food. Bees then pollinate other flowers, allowing for natural reproduction. One cannot thrive without the other. They must remain in balance to continue this peculiar dance of life. Furthermore, humans bee-keep to protect wildlife populations, and in turn we collect commercial honey to eat. We give each other flowers as expressions of emotion, and we cultivate gardens to enrich our lands. And so the mutual benefit cycle continues.

After bees and pollination, I think of the many cycles within the natural world. For example, most plants start as seeds. They then grow into arrays of colours and produce flowers or fruit, which many creatures, including humans, indulge in. Then, they end again in seed life, ready to produce new plants. All along there’s this recurring idea of cycles; everything ends the way it began. The death of one being encourages perseverance and survival in other beings. Predators thrive off of the flesh of other animals. The plants sacrifice their life for the nourishment of herbivore prey. In turn, the prey’s sacrifice allows for the predators to survive. Additionally, bugs thrive off of the rotting flesh of beings. Some of these rotted beings include trees. The rotted and broken bark promote insect communities and fungal growth. In the natural world, death does not mean the end of its purpose. Oftentimes, the ending of one life is a beginning for another.

Everywhere you look, nature has been involved, or connected in some way. You can’t go anywhere in the world without somehow interacting with Mother Earth. Nature has a direct and indirect impact and correlation in our lives. From the largest and oldest trees, or the billowing whales underwater, or perhaps, the roaming rhinos in the Sahara, to the tiniest ants walking single-file, and the even more miniscule fungal mycelium networks, they all have interactions and connections with the world around you. Humans benefit from a healthy earth, and a healthy earth benefits from humans. We must care for nature as much as it cares for us in this careful song of balance and harmony. As the laws of ecology state, “nature knows best.”

Please give a detailed explanation about the meaning and main idea of this poem.

This was originally an assignment of mine for class, but my entry really moved me. This poem is about natural cycles and the Earth's connections. This is meant to be inspiring and hopeful, and bring more awareness to the world we live on.

Please explain your writing and thought process regarding this poem.

I chose to write my poem because of my spiritual beliefs, love for nature and science, and because it was originally an assignment in my writing class. The only requirement was it had to be a nature piece. I'm really connected to nature and I wanted to share that connection with others and hopefully make people appreciate their surroundings more.