Grandmothers in my bones
Long gone
Whispering stories
Telling tales
Are you listening child?
Grandfathers in my heart
Nodding slowly
Deliberating choices
Pointing home
Do you see child?
Mothers in my eyes
Filled with cradleboards
And decorated hides
Celebrating life
You are one of us child
Fathers in my back
Standing tall
Proud faces
Smiling
Be proud child
Brothers in my spleen
Bouncing anger free
To fly off
On the fringe of a dance
Release your pain child
Sisters in my hands
Stroking backs
Comforting
Singing fistfuls of righteous joy
Feel the rhythm child
Sons in my feet
Moving me forward
Toward the place of self
Go there child
Daughter in my belly
Tickling laughter
Out to roll along the prairie
Let it go child
Ancestors on my tongue
Speaking story truth
Speaking my truth
Remember us child.
Aho**
* A Lakota phrase generally translated to "All my relations". Commonly published as the title to a Lakota ceremonial song.
** Lakota - used as an agreement much like Christians would use Amen
So the peeps have been talking, I hear and see. What a yummy poem. Would make a wonderful chant, and then the dance. xoxox
ReplyDeleteThere are a few pieces like this that feel like benedictions of a sort. Maybe when I get enough of them, I will do something with them.
ReplyDelete