This week marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, so I spent some time delving into the many resources available online. NASA’s Global Climate Change initiative has many resources, including this stunning poster created by Jenny Motter, art director for NASA Science. In a video explaining how she created this year’s Earth Day poster, Ms. Motter explained her process and inspiration. She mentioned the work of James Hutton, the father of modern geology.

I wasn’t familiar with Hutton, so I read some short bios of him and looked up some quotes. In his work, Theory of the Earth, Hutton states

To a naturalist, nothing is indifferent; the humble moss that creeps upon the stone is equally interesting as the lofty pine.

To the poet also. Hutton’s mention of the “humble moss” reminded me of a poem I wrote a few months ago but never shared. Today seemed like an appropriate time. Coincidentally, like yesterday’s poem, this is also a Fib.

Crowns of Moss

green
crowns
unfurl,
burst skyward
bedecking the ground
brightening shadowy spaces

Draft © 2020, Catherine Flynn

Previous “News From the Natural World” poems:

April 19: Propagation
April 18: At the Pond
April 17: The Red Chair
April 16: Dear Venus
April 15: Listen
April 14: Ode to a Tide Pool
April 11: What Does A Bird’s Egg Know?
April 10: Clusters of Clover
April 9: Song of the Pink Moon
April 8: Jewel of the Jungle
April 5: Phantom of the Forest
April 4: To Build a Nest
April 3: Apple Cake
April 2: Specimen
April 1: Forest Snail