the land of the valley is alive. it breathes the air of the earth and basks in the sun of the sky. when it is joyful and happy, rich fruits grow from its fields. green grass reaches from its surface. its soil is soft and it drinks from the water of the river. when it is sad and lonely, all growth ceases. the land downcasts its eyes and flora no longer sprouts from its surface. the soil is rough and cannot be tilled, and it lays barren, brown, and dead. so let this lesson be in you, to love your land. awake its soil with your plow, feed it seeds of the earth, let it drink from the rivers, and dance upon its surface; bury your feet in its rich matter and revel in the joy of your land, for it is alive and it is beautiful. --Liz Willey, April 2000