The Return Trip
I think, given a choice, I would not like to come back in my next life as an earthworm. Worms have a lot of fine qualities and a truly amazing work ethic, but their ability to survive New England winters depends on encasing themselves in a blanket of slime and not eating for several months. I’d quit immediately.
Perhaps, I could learn to migrate to avoid the cold, but I’d have to figure out an alternate means of transportation and honestly, leaving isn’t really in my nature. After spending all summer working the farmer’s land, by winter I’d be pretty invested in seeing things through, and I’m sure despite the weather, there’d still be a lot of work to get done.
All the worms that were once native to New England were wiped out during the last ice age and the worms that are here today are considered “non-native invasives”. Despite this, organic minded farmers appreciate all that worms provide, and work hard to keep the worm crew happy. Foresters, on the other hand, would prefer it if all of New England’s earthworm population migrated back to Europe or Asia - or wherever they came from.
Worms help build healthy soil by consuming crop residue, leaf litter, and animal manure - and turning that “waste” into worm castings. The castings fertilize the soil, and as the worms burrow underground, they create channels which help with water retention, air exchange, and soil structure. However, when worms in the forest consume the leaf litter, they expose the soil, which invites invasive plants and that in turn displaces native species.
I’d do my very best to be a well-behaved earthworm and stay out of the forest - and after my 10-year life span was done, I’d happily offer myself up as robin food on the farmer’s front lawn. Because maybe the old saying had it backwards – maybe instead of “we are what we eat” it’s actually “we become what consumes us.” In which case, I’d get to spend a few years as a robin! Oh! I’d make a very good robin! I’d perch in the winterberry bush outside the farmer’s kitchen window and sing about spring. I’d start singing right at the break of day and keep singing until the sun went down again. In fact, I would never, ever, get tired of singing – especially about the coming of spring.
Generally speaking, I love the way you see the world. However, the thought of becoming an earthworm, and, ultimately being digested by a robin, does give me pause. That said, I’ve always loved the idea of singing at dawn, even though I am pretty certain the world would not appreciate my effort because I can’t sing in the body I have. But, I do know I would always want to hear your song! Thank you for “singing” in every season.
Thank you for bringing attention to earthworm life. My concern with being an earthworm is the poor decision making of earthworms. When it rains, they tend to make the poor decision to leave their earthly home, head out to the asphalt covered world, and proceed to get baked to a crisp by the sun! When we take a post rain early morning walk we try and save earthworm lives by picking them up and tossing them back into the grass, but we are only able to save a half dozen and we leave hundreds which will soon be worm crisps. I think this is why you strongly suggest being a forest bound earthworm. You always know the best way to handle life’s challenges, even if they take more than a ratchet strap!