Daily Insight: Sun-Synchronized Discourse with Kinsale Drake

In the heart of a modern world, where the rhythm of nature often seems lost, poet Kinsale Drake invites us on a journey to reconnection in her poem "In Diné Tradition."

The speaker recalls a memory from their childhood, when their mother would rise with the sun, following a tradition deeply rooted in Diné culture. Each dawn, she would go out to greet the sun, performing a blessing with her palms, her calm movements gently waking the speaker.

However, as the speaker grew older, they found themselves drawn away from this connection with nature. A journey to cities, possibly driven by false light and syncopation, led to a sense of disconnection from the natural world.

In the poem, the speaker expresses a longing to find the song they lost, a song that once resonated with the rhythm of the sun. They ask for forgiveness, not only for falling out of step with the sun's rhythm but also for forgetting their own tongue.

The poem paints a vivid picture of this disconnection, with images of anger in the eyes, a feeling of being pulled at the tide in the chest, and imaginary reprimands from jays in the brambles and the cheii in the prickly pear.

Yet, there is a glimmer of hope. As the speaker creeps towards the threshold of home, following a sliver of horizon, they find the sky splintering into light. Even in the mid-afternoon heat, there is a light that seems to call them back to their roots.

The modern movement that has developed to promote and foster a connection with nature is the broader sustainability and nature-based wellness movement. It includes practices such as mindfulness, nature experiences, and sustainable incentives aimed at environmental respect and awareness.

"In Diné Tradition" serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of reconnecting with nature in our increasingly urban lives. It is a call to remember our roots and the rhythm of the sun, and to find our way back to the song that once resonated within us.