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The quintessential
liberal arts scientist, Wabash professor of biology
Robert Petty was a botanist; naturalist; and published
poet. Professor Petty’s family found this
poem among his things some time after his death
in 1990, written in pencil on ruled yellow paper.
We who come from
the earth
Must speak of the earth
Softly, gently, a quiet fierceness.
Far away in the mind
A homeland yet lives.
Silent before us
And beautiful
Into our eyes and ears
The earth does happen,
Speaks through our tongues
To wind and sky,
The great trees and after them
All flesh alive,
Familiar forms
And ancient souls
Of bone and flint.
Know my people
From where you came
And of that long far coming.
It is an awesome epic
Up from that wet dark
Into the light
Burning
With life.
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