Dear Great Salt Lake,

Thank you for receiving
our rivers,
our birds,
our dreams,
And our regard.

May We all come
to guard
your value, your significance
your treasures.

To treasure your expanse
and all the life that you nourish.

Your history nourishes
our understanding and connection to the past,
which reaches back thousands of years ago, reaching thousands of species
that roamed in and near your waters
Your expanse in time and space touches us today,
connecting us to the past, while inspiring the future.

At different times of day, the light waves play on your surface,
illuminating truth and beauty,
bringing a lightness to my heart
and a smile to my face.

Thank you for your presence.
Thank you for your patience,
your persistence, and your peacefulness.

Thank you for this chance to recognize you
to witness you,
and to celebrate you.

Your legacy is carved deeply into the heart of these relatives.

Thank you,
Donda

Donda Hartsfield is an outdoor educator, and enthusiast. She cherishes the wide variety of waterfowl that make the lake their home, as well as the lake’s legacy as a remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville. “Great Salt Lake is a vital part of our watershed which is also a significant component in our curriculum and in our lives!”