“Conversation in Queen’s Park”
when we first met I circled round
you
taking note
this is how you differ from the
One True God I had been schooled
to
this is how you fit into
the same garment that he wore
wary I wondered at your gentleness
the marvel of your womanly
profile
familiar saintly odour
new sharp fragrance of goddess
strength
and nowhere a gavel forcing
agreement
where none exists
you gave me room to breathe
I learned what I could of you
wove your images into me
dyed with you the patterns of my
life
sunrise and sunfall
winter and spring
soon I came to you
with petitions and with prayers
please protect us
please stop the hurt
please give me strength
I found sisterhood in you
your daughters coming to my table
we prayed together and built our
lives
then it came to me to give you
thanks
for all that was all that had been
and all that never came to be
to offer praise and gratitude
for everything
stranger
mother
sister
friend
our time together grew long
I sit now beside you
on an old park bench
this stone could be an altar
this park
a sacred grove
you are a weathered and timeless
woman
your brown dog waddles elderly
off its leash
I see you now and there is only
silence
nothing to offer ask
or say
like I am an ancient hazel tree
and you my silent wife
Image: "Woman and dog at Cedar Lake caretaker's cottage, 1915." This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
