Medicine Woman

birthed unto this terrible earth

in a quiet surrender best met with stone

she sinks her toes into solid land

and listens for reflected revelations

although she’s solace beneath ruined empires

speckled mirrors can only tell the truth:

she is soft and you can change her

but you’ll have to buy her first

her spirit and body snap against the wind

her blackened nails snap against the wind

cleansing and soothing and wrapped in white flag

she tills the soil spilling in from another room

dance for her as she threads the needle

give her solitude or give her ink

her clumsy divinity will not speak

until every palm is touched

feel her whisper crawl over your chest

keep her close with a foot on her chest

she will leave you here swaying, serene

but only when she is sent back out to sea