“Conversation in Queen’s Park” by Mael Brigde

“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.