Written in Blood

Sometimes the Father within me is sound asleep
And all I get is this grumpy old man banging a
Dented pie tin and screaming at the world at large.

Sometimes the Mother within me is also on her pillow
With no resemblance to a willow, huffing and puffing
In her sleep, drool around her lower lip.

Family that understands me, where are you?
Gone to all the four corners of the earth
Without even leaving me a note?

So I write this note to you as if you were
Young and strong and beautiful in every aspect.
Not wrinkled and yellow and purple in places
That should be as white as cream.

Take me into your sweet embrace and sing to me
What brought tears of joy when all I had was a dream.
Now it is a nightmare and the gist of it is that I am
A huge disappointment to myself and to the tribe.

The stars look down upon me as if to give me new life.
I go to the river and behold my reflection.
Young again, poised on the edge of forever, not
Poisoned by humanity and its slumber.

La la la la la la la la
It was all a dream, or so it would seem.
La la la la la la la la
Waking at dawn with a full-throated scream.
“I’m alive, I’m alive and I will survive.
I have the family, the clan and its scars
Written in blood and carried by stars.
Written in blood and the love that we are.

Vicki Woodyard

3 Comments

  1. Vicki,
    That was near perfection! I felt those words. The last three lines really got to me. You are still the loving, determined soul that I believe you to be…in spite of the pain. Thanks for the reminders of the value of knowing your self worth, of self acceptance and in general, of the great surrender to the all.

    Hope peace fills the day for you my friend.
    Tami

    Reply

    1. Stream of consciousness always comes through! I just made a reply to someone else that referenced Leonard Cohen. Read it and remember who we all are in disguise.

      Reply

  2. Your body may be old, Vicki, but like you, I believe you and me have that eternal, high powered spark. This power is timeless, eternal. This maker of the stars sets them in the firmament in order that they may shine down on you and me. just like you wrote
    Thank you for that beautiful reminder.

    Reply

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