The southern bird girl

Today the wind smells like it did on top of that mountain when we thought the lightening would kill us.

.

Rags

They took your nail polish off
after I had painted them
wanting to be brave

In the face of you, ever mother,
needing mothering.

And still I just wanted your favor,
wanted you to smile proud;
I never considered the nobility
of your struggle and how much you hid,
wanting to be brave

In the presence of me:
"Take care and be taken care of,
never doubt that it's been enough,
and I am so proud."

/

surprised still by your shoulders
all stature, sunk in my senses;
stolen for granted, the form I stood against.

I opposed your imposition,
sore for my snideness tamed
by the one who saw it and still loved.
my words then were sour,
aimed to cut.
I bit, tasted my bitterness
and spat it back your way.

You stayed, stood and waited.
staid against my instincts
and still loved.

though I aimed to cut,
you had only words for grafting,
joining both our boughs
to a solid standing trunk,
rooted in (our own) stead.