Painting by Bev Jackson
Belonging
You are no errant mother
even if you are overwhelmed
by rising seas and wildfire moons:between the drought and the flood
you have taught your daughter
to love rivers.Under stars you no longer
believe are eternal
you shared an adagio
of unhurried heaven on earth.You shaped the wonder of days
onto marble enduring past
the soggy marsh
of your fears:passing along the gift of belonging—
even if it is such a long way
to solid ground.
