Earthseed 41-45

41. Death

Death
Is a great Change—
Is life’s greatest Change.
We honor our beloved dead.
As we mix their essence with the earth,
We remember them,
And within us,
They live.

∞ = Δ

42. We have lived before

We have lived before.
We will live again.
We will be silk,
Stone,
Mind,
Star.
We will be scattered,
Gathered,
Molded,
Probed.
We will live
And we will serve life.
We will shape God
And God will shape us
Again,
Always again,
Forevermore.

∞ = Δ

43. To benefit your world

To shape God
With wisdom and forethought,
To benefit your world,
Your people,
Your life,
Consider consequences,
Minimize harm
Ask questions,
Seek answers,
Learn,
Teach.

∞ = Δ

44. The words of welcoming

These are the words of welcoming: …
We, your people
Welcome you.

We are Earthseed.

You are Earthseed—
One of many
One unique,
One small seed,
One great promise.
Tenacious of life,
Shaper of God,
Water,
Fire,
Sculptor,
Clay,
You are Earthseed!
And your Destiny,
The Destiny of Earthseed,
Is to take root
Among the stars.

∞ = Δ

45. Civilization

Civilization is to groups what intelligence
is to individuals. Civilization provides ways
of combining the information, experience,
and creativity of the many to achieve
ongoing group adaptability.

∞ = Δ

Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Sower (Earthseed, #1) (1993111)

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