I brought all the protections I had
a child’s stone in my pocket
the rose scent of my grandmother
morning silent prayer, repeated out loud
bear charms, mirror affirmations, planned replies
how to have an open heart, but behind a shield
a favorite scarf, comfortable shoes, a rescue plan
medicine tea from matriarchs, gratitude, courage
truth can arrive even from unhealthy hearts
to speak with certainty and offer my truth
seeing that a toxic stilted laugh does not harm me
“you are so overloaded with gifts”
we each choose a path and play a role
this full moon will be a partial eclipse
sleeping bear, just a partial transformation
I can say I am an artist, I am a writer, and I teach
but my life started as I held mother knowledge
I could build safety for us two
though never before known
I cry a few tears, and thank the fierceness
of a child that found how to survive
who now teaches a dance of transformation
rainbow child, who will you be, who will I be
for you
for every autocorrect foe
he said adversary when he meant advocacy
she called herself a skunk – for protection
raised in safety, makes safety for self and family
activist means to make a difference, make change
can safety and change make friends
friendships are chosen not made
my people marked bears season at the world tree
to sleep, bones left as last marks
before a marker declared songs were forgotten
I listen with one ear to the moon, to my heart
a daughter renamed, a spirit intended for soaring
today I taught patience, dreams and being
I thanked the old ones
I will learn to thank the ones who teach me
to only listen with one ear