A Dedication to Mother Earth

Ode to Yosemite By Cady Dartez O’ glorious sky piercing peak,&nbsp; Half dome reaches for the stars at 8,800 feet. O’ lush verdant valleys that leave one without any words to speak, Without protection, this land would be easy to mistreat. O’ ancient sequoias taller than buildings,&nbsp; live longer than any man, Seeing these redwoods is the utmost thrilling, Now causing construction to ban. O’ thousands of visitors come to visit preserved land each day, So many footprints can quickly destroy the past, simply wearing it away. O’ Yosemite, You hold thousands of years of history, Protecting nature protects Native heritage, Preserving the hundreds of species of life, Maintains the culture of the Miwok people,&nbsp; And how their eviction caused unbearable strife.

Ode to Joshua Tree By Skye Cheney Where the sun reaches its peak and life can survive the heat. Rocks pile, and it makes me smile. Part of something, that's nature's secret. She doesn't need to share but i'm happy to keep it. Sixty miles of sanctuary she keeps, I only wish she wouldn't weep. Cause I look up without a plane in the sky, instead of looking to see a building standing high. I can see the world through how it was meant to be seen. I can feel the life that I was meant to lead.

A Dedication to Mother Earth Cady Dartez, Kat Olson, Skye Cheney, Arielle Tavey

Journey of a Joshua Tree By Skye Cheney 							You 				grow from the 		hot, dry land, born out of 	resilience, lasting longer than man. You stay on this earth without feeling the thirst, out in the desert where no one could ever. At nine feet tall you've seen it all. Never breaking forever taking, you breathe our air so we must take care. So you may stay on this land we share.

Journey of Yosemite By Cady Dartez 	In Eastern California lies, 	&nbsp;A Home to many, 	A place of peace and vast blue skies. 	Where 1000 different species of plant grow, 	Sinking their roots in the untouched soil in the ground below. 	Where black bears play in the still, translucent rivers, Fetching fresh trout and taking in the sun, 	Viewing the towering Sierra Nevada around them, 	&nbsp;that shadows over everyone. 	To deer flocking in the deep valleys where flowers abloom, 	Famous Mariposa grove every night sits under its loyal companion, 	The moon.&nbsp; 	Descending at 317 feet, 	Vernall falls glistens and glows 	as it makes large splashes&nbsp; that ebb and flow. We can’t love a park to death As something so majestic can also be very fragile, 	Taken away in one breath. 	Even if it's beautiful, 	We must leave it to remain, 	Untouched by people, 	It's our civic duty to be humane. 	A journey for many, 	&nbsp;A Trouble to none, 	Yosemite’s nature makes all hearts sync as one.

Earth's Legacy By Cady Dartez The purity of an untouched realm all grown in mother nature’s hand, Laws protecting God’s creatures unscathed by mankind,&nbsp; Preserve the Earth in small pieces of land. Though the entirety of continents have been torn up where we stand, Parks like Yosemite keep natural wonders alive and they keep The purity of an untouched realm all grown in mother nature’s hand. Where Ruby Crowned Kinglets fly free and withstand, Their homes of ancient sequoias give them sanctuary to preserve the Earth in small pieces of land. Splash, goes Bridalveil Fall towering over those who dare to view firsthand,&nbsp; In the depths of Yosemite Valley, it climbs and reaches the mountains peak keeping The purity of an untouched realm all grown in mother nature’s hand. Oh, Yosemite with your fresh air in so much demand, You were deemed untouchable in 1864 which allowed people to learn to Preserve the Earth in small pieces of land. Bless you, the spectacle of nature that seems to forever expand, You seem to always know how to bring a weary heart home after so many years away. The purity of an untouched realm all grown in mother nature’s hand, Preserve the Earth in small pieces of land.

Ode to Zion By Arielle Tavey Zion, Zion, how you amaze me so. From the raging rivers flow to the giant buffalo,&nbsp; I stand in awe of your beautiful glow. High above the trees, swaying in the breeze, the birds spread their wings in search of many things.&nbsp; I watch them in wonder,&nbsp; jealous of how free, sometimes I can’t help but wish it were me, viewing Zion from above.&nbsp; Down below the buffalos roam, far from home but never alone. Zion, Oh Zion, how magical you are.&nbsp; From shallow creeks to mountain peaks, I want to explore, I need to see more. Your beauty amazes me.&nbsp; As the sun begins to set,&nbsp; shades of blue mix with red, and yellow too, to paint the sky with the most beautiful picture you’ll ever find.&nbsp; Late at night the coyotes wail, the wild dogs at their tails,&nbsp; but the rest of the park remains asleep.&nbsp; Every day, whether sunny or gray,&nbsp; Zion’s beauty never fails to amaze me. If we want its sights to last forever,&nbsp; we must remember to keep it preserved for it's the least it deserves. So, here’s a toast to the place I love the most, thank you for being an incredible host.&nbsp;

Ode to Yellowstone By Kat Olson O, Yellowstone, Yellowstone Your beauty goes beyond compare. Breath-taking is everything that calls you home. Your fit to be the king’s heir. Your plant species exceeding one thousand- Bright yellow marigolds blooming on your grassy knolls, Jade-colored junipers sprouting on your fertile lands- Blossom a new grace and beauty in my soul. Even your two hundred species of animals- Chubby chipmunks stuffing their cheeks, Antelope bouncing sixty miles per hour in diagonals- Evokes awe that continues to increase. I admire your terrain so grand: Glacier-carved valleys singing with a dignified tone, Snowy white peaks watching over your land; Tears fill my eyes when I see how you’ve grown. Your beauty sends a call to action: A call to appreciate, to love, to protect, to preserve. Let’s devote our lives to saving it with passion And celebrate all that you’ve so kindly allowed us to observe.

Yellowstone’s Beauty By Kat Olson Yellowstone. its beauty Encompasses nature’s own. from the Lodgepole pine, standing seventy-five feet tall with its emerald green needles in groups of two, to the&nbsp; Lush meadows blanketed with flowers of pink, yellow, and blue, where deer lay with their fawns under the glistening morning dew. Or from the shimmering river as it rushes about, only to be disturbed by the great hand of a bear plunging in for a trout. little White woodland stars dot the fields of july, resembling the true stars that scatter across the night sky. the Same sky that a pack of gray wolves bellows a melodious tune underneath the silver moon. The great rumble of five thousand hoofs sounds below as a stampede of Bison bounds across the great plateau. a majestic eagle soars&nbsp; Overhead, it floats above a rocky mountain juniper before swooping down, skimming a mouse’s fur. Now, thanks to Yellowstone, with its magnificence and grandeur, Everyone alike can experience and help preserve the beauty of nature.

Table of Contents....................................................................1 Journey of a Geyser (Kat Olson)........................................2 Journey of a Canyon (Arielle Tavey).................................3 Journey of a Joshua Tree (Skye Cheney).........................4 Journey of Yosemite (Cady Dartez)...................................5 Earth's Legacy (Cady Dartez)...............................................6 A Cactus' Worth (Skye Cheney)..........................................7 A Place to Call Home (Arielle Tavey)................................8 Yellowstone's Beauty (Kat Olson).................................9-10 Ode to Yosemite (Cady Dartez).........................................11 Ode to Joshua Tree (Skye Cheney)..................................12 Ode to Zion (Arielle Tavey)................................................13 Ode to Yellowstone (Kat Olson).......................................14 Works Cited........................................................................15-16

A Cactus' Worth By Skye Cheney Why can't you let me in? When the sun goes down the sand runs thin, when the lights go out and the whole world dims. Do you know where I've been? Do you know how I've lived? I've been hurt and burnt and so I've learned, guard stays up, heart untouched. Left in the desert, I've had to learn better. Pins and needles surround my soul. I'm apologetic but I can't lose control. All you see is the danger I pose, covered in spikes but the dust feels like home. It's hot and dry but still, I survive. I stand tall and strong when temperatures are a hundred and nine. I'm sorry if I've grown tough and cause harm on the outside. Sorry if it seems rough but my beauty lies inside. A cactus has lived along a fine line, but a cactus lives on beautiful and strong. A cactus deserves to stay where it belongs.

A Place to Call Home By Arielle Tavey Zion, a place to call home; a piece of Heaven where the Buffalos roam. A safe space for the deer to jump around; in the meadows, or on the ground. If you look at the mountains, you might find animals of all different kinds. You’ll see birds, goats, and foxes too and if you get lucky, you’ll hear the cows moo. Look down below, as the Virgin river flows and brings life wherever it goes. Its clear waters carry fish of all sorts who swish their tails back and forth. Behind the mountains, when the time is right, you’ll see the most beautiful sunset you will ever find. People forever change but nature's beauty remains the same. We must remember to appreciate its sights, and all the starry nights, for it is one thing we can always count on to bring us delight.

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