What Does It Take to See?

What does it take to see the dandelions blooming in the spring, yellow manes bobbing in the wind?

What does it take to see the sun slanting through the windows, to hear the tree frog's chorus in the night?

They do not see because they do not want to. They do not see because they close their eyes. Those who close their eyes are cowards, because what do cowards do?

They run from their fear, from their problems, from the mountains they have to climb.

They do not see because they are scared to look. 

What does it take to see the fireflies glowing in the summertime, little lanterns bobbing like stars descending from the heavens?

What does it take to see the doe hiding her fawn amongst the tall grass, telling her to hush?

What does it take to see the sunset over the mountains, mountains that have endured many a turn of the earth?

What does it take for them to feel empathy, to look further than their window, claiming that they see, when all it is is their own reflection in the glass?

What does it take to see the autumn leaves burning bright, to smell the crispness of cool air?

What does it take to see the apples that grow green, fade to red, and fall from the branch?

But unlike the apple, which will sink back to the earth from whence it came, to grow another tree, once the fertile fruit on which we live has fallen, it will not regrow.

What does it take for them to see the crystalline flakes of snow that fall upon the earth, the ice that frosts the land and makes it glitter?

What does it take to see the hare that leaves silent tracks through the blanketed woods, tracked only by the quiet pads of a fox?

What does it take for them to see that there is no time to lose?

The hope has faded from these words, for those who see the hope need no convincing. 

No, these words are a warning to those who close their eyes. 

What 

will it take

for you 

to see

that this earth 

is too beautiful

to burn?