Laying down her sketchbook, young artist Freya,
knelt by the flower bed musing on her inner thoughts,
as ladybird chases aphid through petals and stalks to edge of the world.
Soul of earth, in my veins. Alive in nature, never sleeping,
resting but never sleeping, I am alive, breathing,
spirit of wind, trees, birds, foliage, always awake and beating.
Ladybird chases aphid through petals and stalks to edge of the world.
Inside the pansy a new universe. Red, green, yellow.
Dewdrops like stars. Infinite space. Ladybird are we infinite?
Is earth infinite? Sun burning, blinding, searing.
Ladybird, ladybird fly away home
The earth is on fire…

Words by Amanda Rapley Redfern – 1985 – 2007
Adapted by Jan Hedger 2019