A Love Letter to Dirt

Today, I want to do something a little different and share a poem that has stayed with me. It’s called Ode to Dirt by Sharon Olds, from her book Odes.

Here’s an excerpt:

Dear Dirt, I am sorry I slighted you.
I thought that you were only the background
for the leading characters, the plants and animals
and human animals.
It’s as if I had loved only the stars
and not the sky, which gave them space
in which to shine. Subtle, various, sensitive.
You are the skin of our terrain.
You are our democracy.

The poem continues, weaving an ode to dirt not just as a material but as a living, breathing part of existence—our equal, our origin, and our resting place.

Seeing Dirt Anew

Reading this poem made me pause and reconsider something I’ve always taken for granted: the dirt beneath our feet. Like many, I’ve thought of dirt as the backdrop to more exciting things—plants, flowers, the food we grow. It never occurred to me to give the soil itself the same kind of reverence.

Olds’ words hit home when she writes:

You are our democracy.
When I understood I had never honored you as a living equal, I was ashamed of myself.

This struck me deeply. Dirt doesn’t just support life—it is life. It’s the skin of the earth, where all living things grow, thrive, and ultimately return.

Gardening with Reverence

I’ve recently started a tiny garden. I’m no expert—just fumbling my way through planting and tending to the earth. Things are beginning to sprout, and it’s thrilling to watch, but reading this poem made me think: Am I giving the soil itself the care it deserves?

Instead of focusing solely on what grows out of it, what if I gave attention to the soil? What if I treated it as alive, as worthy of my care and reverence as the plants it nurtures?

In many ways, the dirt is the hero of the story. Without it, nothing else could exist.

A Call to Honor the Soil

Maybe this is a reminder we all need. Whether you’re tending a garden, caring for a houseplant, or simply walking across a patch of lawn, take a moment to appreciate the dirt.

Dirt is where we all come from, and it’s where we’ll return. It’s humble, unassuming, and often overlooked, but it’s also miraculous.

Let’s honor it. Let’s care for it. Let’s give it the love it deserves—not just as a resource but as a partner in the intricate equation of life.

Take a moment today to notice the soil around you. Tend to it, respect it, and remember that it’s not just dirt—it’s the foundation of everything.

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