^ "Take me for a moment away from you, Mother Earth, that I may see my friends, neighbors and me."- avr

 Mother Earth's Day

"Take me for a moment away from you, Mother Earth,

that I may see my friends, neighbors and me."- avr

Formerly, Scenic Rural Iloilo from the Air 

                    Photos and Poem by Dr Abe V Rotor

  

 Biggest spotlight - the sun - reveals a typical farming community, the fields 

basking with the golden color of grain and color of the earth after harvest.

Take me for a moment away from you, Mother Earth,

higher than the highest mountain, the tallest building,

that I may view life whole and solid and unabridged

in a perspective beyond details, and without stirring:

I see clouds shrouding you from the sun and blue sky,

in cumulus like giant mushroom on the horizon, rising,

and released into nimbus, becoming heavy, falling as rain

in the accompaniment of wind, thunder and lightning.

I see rivers swell and lakes fill to the brim in monsoon,

flooding fields and pasture, spilling through the valley,

meandering, roaring over waterfalls and boulders,

resting in swamps and estuaries, then flowing to sea.  

  

I see farmers in the field, women and children, too,

and work animals pulling the plow and the harrow;

I hear singing and laughter and joyous conversation,

barking of dogs, cackling  of fowls trailing the furrow.

I see harvesters gather the golden grains by hand;

drying shocks in the sun, and building  haystacks;

I see flocks of pigeon and native chicken gleaning,

women and children, the sun setting on their backs.  

I see the fields scorched, a smoke here and there - 

brush fire! when the grass dries up bursts into flame

spreading all over, burning anything on its path - 

what a waste! but it is nature's work and game. 

I see poor harvest, good harvest, where and why,

crops early or late, and fields never planted at all;

I see farming a way of life, farming as a business,

and farm life in all seasons, happiness its goal.

I see children flying kites of various makes and colors,

beside them grownups cheering, coaching, flying

their own kites too, oh, they have not forgotten

the art of their childhood, so do I, reminiscing.

I see children playing patintero, trompo and sipa,

games of old folks when they too, were children;

games of beetles and spiders as gladiators;

palo de sebo and pabitin cannot be forgotten.   

I see tourists, I see balikbayan, I see old and young;

familiar and unfamiliar faces, sweet, shy, and bold;

I see children going to school, housewives to market,

people of all walks of life, always on the move. 

I see the hills and mountains, to me they're the same,

but where have the forests gone, the pasture?

I see the rivers, the lakes and ponds old as they are,

I have always loved all of these as I love nature.  

I have seen enough, let me return, Mother Earth,

to my home, sweet home, on the farm, to my family;

and tell them of what I've seen in my short sojourn; 

down below I saw my friends, my neighbors, and me. ~  

  

  Geometric parcels of farmland in parallel formation apparently 

   show diversified farming and system of crop rotation. 

 

It's the peak of summer, and the rains have not arrived.  

Green patches are fields irrigated from shallow wells.

 

Residential houses huddle on one side of a creek (left); 

farms undergo fallowing, a resting period in summer.

 

Misty air looms over the dry landscape - a prelude to monsoon.

 

This fringe of land appears to have a sub-climate of its 

own influenced by the surrounding sea, while the

 rest of the island undergoes the normal dry season. 

  The uplands were once covered with forests and grasslands, 

now converted into agriculture and human settlements.  

A wisp of smoke greets the lazy morning air from among 

the trees that line a creek appearing like a miniature forest. 

 

A unique symmetry created by a natural waterway crowded 

with trees that form a natural windbreak and  sanctuary of 

surrounding organisms specially in summer. ~ 

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AI Overview

"Take me for a moment away from you, Mother Earth, 

that I may see my friends, neighbors and me."- avr

Living with Nature School on Blog 

Naturalism - The Eighth Sense 

The line expresses a momentary longing to step back from the burdens, wounds, or overwhelming realities of the natural world, while still acknowledging a deep bond with Mother Earth.

How this fits Dr. Abe V. Rotor’s ecological themes

Dr. Abercio V. Rotor is widely known for eco-poetry that highlights humanity’s relationship with nature, environmental justice, and the urgency of ecological care. De La Salle University. His works often portray Earth as a living, nurturing presence — a mother figure — while also confronting the damage humans inflict on the environment.

Given this context, the line can be understood as:

o  A plea for temporary escape from environmental suffering — disasters, degradation, or the emotional weight of witnessing ecological decline. Rotor’s eco-poetry often “dismantles disasters to bring forth survival through witnessing” suggesting that environmental awareness can be emotionally heavy.

o  A moment of human vulnerability, where the speaker feels overwhelmed by the responsibility or grief tied to caring for the planet.
o  Not a rejection of nature, but a brief pause — a breath — before returning to the work of stewardship.

Symbolic meaning “Mother Earth” signals affection, dependence, and reverence. Rotor’s poetry consistently frames Earth as a nurturing but endangered presence

“Take me… away from you” suggests emotional fatigue: the speaker is overwhelmed by what they see — destruction, imbalance, or humanity’s failures.

“For a moment” is crucial: it implies the speaker will return. The bond is unbroken.
In essence, the line captures the tension between love for nature and the pain of witnessing its suffering — a recurring theme in Rotor’s eco-literary work.

Why this interpretation fits Rotor’s eco-literacy
Rotor’s ecological literacy emphasizes:

o  Mutualistic relationships between species and environments
o  Environmental justice and testimony against ecological abuse 
o  Using poetry to inspire sustainable though

A line asking for temporary distance from Mother Earth aligns with the emotional dimension of ecological witnessing — the need to step back, reflect, and regain strength before continuing the work of caring for the planet. ~