Allena Bassett
Today there was no triumph
She did not win
so she gathered herself
and her “bleeding heart”
to rest and set to rights
her “tender” self
She called down the Moon
The Grandmothers came too
and took her Home
Laid her down on a bed of sweetgrass
Braided sage smoke
into her hair
Rubbed her down with
oil and Earth
Coyote curled at her feet
Crow watched from the edges
all shadows and laughter
The fire kicked and popped
as They hummed
the Old Songs
while They worked
and She wept her wounds whole
After a while
they kissed her forehead
and sent her back
She didn’t want to go
but her heart had to bleed
once again
It was the only way
to hold back
the twisted tides
So she said her goodbyes
and set about her return
to do her Work
she had signed on for
so very long ago
Clamor 