I am the wild

The power of saying "yes"

This is what happens when you simply say “yes”.

When

Natalie Eslick

asked for short contributions for a group poem, my first thought was “no, I don't have anything profound enough to add”.

Yet, I sent in a line anyway.

And I see now that my small contribution became profound by being part of something bigger.

When “I am the wild” appeared in my inbox last week, I was completely blown away - by the poem that Natalie had stitched together and by my reaction to it.

Natalie took 54 disparate contributions and wove them into a tapestry of scenes depicting our wild human nature and realm of experience. It is astounding, deeply moving and a work of art. If you want to know how she did it, read this. And you can read the full poem here.

As I read, I felt part of something magical, mysterious and human. And I was drawn into all the ways we humans feel, traversing through grief, retreat, rest, possibility, new beginnings and our connections to each other and nature - weaving between “big weather and emotions” as Natalie put it. And I felt connected to the humans who contributed to this incredible piece.

After reading the poem a few times, I know that future readings will offer me many new perspectives when I need them.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and to Natalie for weaving the poem together with love, sensitivity and skill. I am grateful to myself for saying yes and for being part of this.

If you’re wondering what to look at next, have a moodle around these:

• Like, comment on or share this post (or all three!)

• Introduce yourself and your favourite way to moodle in this thread

• Read some of my micro-fiction (mostly 100-word stories, including collabs with other Substackers)

• Visit my profile to see my Notes, who I subscribe to and recommend