So today I walked closer, closer to the wagons of the center. I wanted my face seen, the Sky had whispered in my ear, and its breeze cloaked me with strength. The grass bent under my feet to show the path I should take. I saw it when I bathed, the way the water swirled to the north, and rippled around my legs. The way the droplets rolled up instead of down, warm instead of cold. The way the water bug danced along the hazed blue surface closer to me, showing me the break of stream reeds I should walk across to the grass.
Yes, today was the day. I kissed my grandmothers cheek, I tasted the salty flesh that was always moistened with tears. She said she could see my path. I said funny, now I'm the blind one. We laughed. Grandmother said to not worry, she knew, she knew the day she brought me out of the water and breeze gave me my first breath. She knew the first time touch of grass upon my body before I was swaddled. She knew. Again, would be nice if someone told me.
I walked the path of the wagons to seek out the First of First. That is what was told. I was excited and afraid.
I stepped from the water, bare except for the small necklace I wore. A birth gift handed down. A tiny glass vial of blood and blood tears. Blood so old, I would have to sit all day to remember every name I knew I had locked away from the story told so long ago. Each carried a grain of dirt, and a tear, locked away in that seal of glass. Sand, fire and water formed that glass Grandmother would say, we are all captured in gifts of the land. Our blood is all we have to give back to it in honor.
I watched the wagons, I have never been to the Clan wagons of the First Wagons. Only the small of the back. Since I was a small girl sitting outside the platform reading the beats each flow of butterfly wings, did I know, I could feel. I could sense. I was one with the land. I didn't have deep inner power of some, but I had the embrace of spirit to give back to the Sky the gift given to me.
The day the ring found my nose, was the day I was allowed to step into the wagon and learn. A woman of my people. My Tribe. Did I have what it takes to join those in the core of it?
Yes, today was the day. I kissed my grandmothers cheek, I tasted the salty flesh that was always moistened with tears. She said she could see my path. I said funny, now I'm the blind one. We laughed. Grandmother said to not worry, she knew, she knew the day she brought me out of the water and breeze gave me my first breath. She knew the first time touch of grass upon my body before I was swaddled. She knew. Again, would be nice if someone told me.
I walked the path of the wagons to seek out the First of First. That is what was told. I was excited and afraid.
I stepped from the water, bare except for the small necklace I wore. A birth gift handed down. A tiny glass vial of blood and blood tears. Blood so old, I would have to sit all day to remember every name I knew I had locked away from the story told so long ago. Each carried a grain of dirt, and a tear, locked away in that seal of glass. Sand, fire and water formed that glass Grandmother would say, we are all captured in gifts of the land. Our blood is all we have to give back to it in honor.
I watched the wagons, I have never been to the Clan wagons of the First Wagons. Only the small of the back. Since I was a small girl sitting outside the platform reading the beats each flow of butterfly wings, did I know, I could feel. I could sense. I was one with the land. I didn't have deep inner power of some, but I had the embrace of spirit to give back to the Sky the gift given to me.
The day the ring found my nose, was the day I was allowed to step into the wagon and learn. A woman of my people. My Tribe. Did I have what it takes to join those in the core of it?
