Yasmin Germaine Haut

Compass Yasmin Germaine Haut

Navigation has played a crucial role for humanity on this beautiful blue planet. In the distant past, sniffing the air for scents, noticing the arc of the sun, naming the stars and using them to steer us toward prime hunting grounds all contributed to survival of our species, at least so far.

However, today we must question our way forward. Our existence is questionable. Resources we have squandered have resulted in species extinction, mass pollution of the oceans and air, and perilous relationships among nations.

The compass is a metaphor in this series of poems for navigational challenges we meet in both our personal and planetary existence. After each poem there is a reflection to steer the reader or at least prompt a consideration. We aim to steer ourselves toward a more compassionate course. Our simple life experiences: birth, death, gardening, laundry, are all pointers on the map. A refurbished compass needle can be calibrated using the heart to lead toward more love, harmony and beauty.