The Forgiving Nature

by Victoria Puffer

I am not empty 
I never have been 
I never will be 
My blood, my bones 
Even the hollow space in my lungs is occupied by air 
Wind I can control 
To sing 
To play instruments 
To say “I love you” 

When I die, which I will, 
I will go back to the ground 
The ground will eat everything I have ever been 
The good  
The bad 
The selfish 
The lazy 
The loving 
Earth will reclaim me 
And make me something new 
Something beautiful