birds fly
it's not just that they're brave enough
to bare their tender beating hearts
chest-first into wild winds blowing
in the open skies
no, bravery
is inherent to who they are
it is actually that lightness of heart
that permits flight
in fact, demands it
as the fullest expression of
beings with wings
it allows them to meet the winds perfectly,
feathers sailing through molecules
of blue air, old air, new air
birds are never alone
they are always going to
or from their flocks
their friends
their foe/s
the only times they sail solo
wings spread wide, in honor
of this gift of flight
a freedom, a delight
birds are never silent
they are always squawking
or squealing, or chirping
calling to each other
with community news
and gossip, discussing
the state of the winds, and
deciding: what should we do next?
As MB reminded me often
in our coaching sessions:
"follow the breadcrumbs"
They reminded me of Baba Yaga's
wisdom, and the power to hiss
incantations over a smoldering cauldron
melting the capitalist mindset
of profits over people
boiling the patriarchy's binaries
burning all
that we didn't need, after all
the old sage reminds us
of powers hidden within
seeds planted in the forest
unseen, unknown by most
but you should know
they are there, waiting,
ready to be blessed
by your longing as much
as your tilling
by the goddzz of sun and wind
and water as much
as your waiting and your labor
the farmer
she is filled with faith
so she works wonders with the wands of her fingers
deep in the earth, wisened
by the stories embedded within
she draws out nutrients, long forgotten
potions blended into becoming
chemically active, catalyzed by
the right times, the right
hands, the right spells
until the day of the harvest, she
waits in between laboring
she cooks & she eats & she prays,
she dances & smokes & sleeps
satisfied, that she did her best.
she wakes and talks to her
friends, her families
she soaks up the sun spots
eagerly, feeling the heat
before the bloom
and at 7pm she joins the others
out on balconies
the clappers, the bangers of pots
and pans, and also
the ones on streets, and cycles too,
the joggers, the parents
of dogs and children,
here we all are - to cheer on
the essential ones: the workers
at hospitals, the care
givers at homes, the transit magicians
the grocery store providers
the cooks, the delivery people
the workers who make all
our work possible, and easier
clapping howling cheering
here we all are
calling forth a new world
into being, becoming
right again, right now, the cacophony forms
exactly the right symphony / beating a wild drum
of hope in the hearts of millions
as we also hear whispers
of what we should each do next
tread very silently at this point
or better still, be still
listen closely, so carefully
to the vibration
that tunes your heart
when you can hear this rhythm
you are ready to sing
to move the force of your labor
into motion, in a
focused direction
in the dance of collaboration
and then, when we are all in sync
like a flock of birds
beating hearts bare in the wind
confident
of our wings and direction
sure of our togetherness
we will ascend, and complete
our migration
to the new world
of our dreams, our labors and
our sacred, most powerful imaginations
so trust your heart, my friend
let it breathe fully, and often
let it be the one who speaks
when you open your mouth
the air waves will vibrate
with the power of your
truest intentions.
trust and believe my friends
trust and believe your selves
take action, labor well
and have faith and patience.