Carry
My love,
when you grow up, I pray
you won't disregard
the rumblings in your soul
voices so low
you may not recognize them
at first.
My darling,
the vibrations may shake
your very core
a most unusual unison of cries
beguiling and terrifying
at the same time
deep and unyielding
stubborn and revealing
resolute in their resonance
of shared histories
and trauma.
My child,
don’t try to quiet them down
they will enfold and surround
you with love but
also with urgency
you will have much yet to learn
to see
those spirits ensconced deep
are restless in their speech
for all they have to share
and teach.
My daughter,
still your mind to listen
steel your heart to strength
when their voices rise
rouse your spirit
lift your eyes
to the gift of the task placed upon you
built on the path cleared before you
to walk alongside
to carry with pride
their stories
their loves
their lives.
We carry them with us
because they are us
as we will also one day
be them.
They call themselves
sisters
mothers
ancestors
aunts
but they are also
heroes
leaders
trailblazers
women.
We stand on their
strong and broken
shoulders.
We lean in
to their songs
their tales
and murmurs.
And we respond
with love and honor,
knit together as
their daughters.