Shedding Suits
Spring stayed in hiding this year
no crocus pushed up through the earth
a faucet turned on and only quiet revealed
a dawn with no trill
peepless ponds
an ocean with no current
mountains collapsed
in a heap
lying still
only love and gratitude
will rouse her from rest
from her wounds
she is cold
dark
and quiet
a child sings a verse
wishes on a star
quiet movement - a ceremony of innocence
stirs
ancient ancestors, guides, spirits
to assist
a crone from within a tree
covered in moss
eyes misty
knows it is time
for the wake up
the crone and the child
sway from side to side
with the stillness
in a shared rhythm
palms touching palms
communicating with clear eyes
one by one - others join
in sacred chant - movement
like forest creatures
slithering and stalking
a ceremony of conviction and adoration
fierce and determined
humble and seeking
following the child and the crone's patterns
for those that forgot
how to be
a collective memory
of how it once was
like an honored fairy tale
that hasn't been read
for a long time
the rich illustrations recall
pages creased from
repetition and
love
the cadence
of words
tumbling through
from back
when the earth was honored
first
and quiet wisdom
heard
resuscitating her
together
with voices
equally
different
and while bees, birds, frogs, water, coral, and healthy dirt come back
and the mountains are solid
the faucet gives drink
and all voices count
"return on investment"
"demonstrating value"
"short term wins"
and "value proposition"
are extinct
not part of the equation
anymore
because it's clearer now
respect first
all else follows
stiff brains remove knotted ties
"brand awareness" fading
"financial optimization" cracking
shedding suits to earth
naked
there they lie
at rest
mushrooms push up from scalps
spiders spin webs among fingers
they weep
shaking
they wail
they moan
as the spell is lifted
the suits now earth
a stream of tears
the colors
of a rainbow
purify
and we love them
slowly
roots emanate from feet
a bud on each fingertip pokes through
a reboot
new program
dormant
energy
moves and then
releases confusion
making way for
the ancient and new
together
like the crone and the child
both wise and young
They stand up
stretch
breathe,
sing
and
and join
the wake up.
Illustrations by Lily Moon
