Emma Writes Words

It doesn't signify,

the multitude of wrinkles shared between them

the years of Sunday night phonecalls.

This is a girl and her mama.

It's forgiveness in the form of letting go and endeavoring to understand.

She clings to the woman who taught her to love

who inspired insecurity and confidence at once

who gave her liberty while claiming none for herself.

The memories may sting, the winds may howl, the body may revolt

and, steadfast, she will hold her mother's hand

I am averse to

fighting fire with fire

find me on my own

one finds peace in solitude

Bobbie Sue is a saint.

You just have to meet her to love her.

You would think her path was paved with peace

softer than the tender moss

on the forest floor

but it wasn't.

Instead it was paved by

sunglasses and foundation

and bloody noses before school even starts.

You see

when they said "misery loves company"

they must have been talking about my granny.

A husband who drinks and uses fists

to express his feelings

a whole life plagued by the greedy hands of men

meant to protect her

who knew 'protection' meant taking liberty with young bodies.

But behavior is learned

and instead of learning to change

Alease learned to perpetuate violence.

Gentle little Bobbie Sue

lover of animals music and nature

needed to learn the same lessons her mother learned.

Like cement over green earth

the cycle of violence hardened over my mother

and like the petals of the dandelion

poking it's head through the cracks,

she chose a different path;

one of laughter joy and gentleness.

The cycle of her mother and her mother's mother

would be broken.

Her daughters would never know

the violent black and blue

only the caress of the sun

because Bobbie Sue is a saint

Hail to the hidden Edens. Here the air is clear sky an impossible blue river a glistening dream creatures a symphony. Rolling mountain upon mountain of green. The sun sits high in the sky like a mother bird feeding her chicks. Trees reach up, grateful for the nourishment. They show this gratitude by growing for there is nothing more life-giving than witnessing a child grow and grow to feed and shelter and shade and protect. Every year heat envelops this place so that souls may be reborn.