It is the first of June

in this very strange year

of change and contrasts

of hope and fear.

The scent of lilacs

pink cherry blossoms

small blue eggs hatching new life.

Events unfolding

senseless suffering

inflicted on humans, by humans,

again, and again, and again.

It is after midnight and I toss and turn

sleep is not coming easily tonight.

An email message from my dear friend, June:

“Trying to sleep,
thinking of you,
I opened the blind and saw
the moonlight reflecting on the venetian blinds
like teardrops.”

I wrap myself in a blanket

and step outside

the wet grass is cool beneath my feet

the sky is clear

the air is pure

cleansed by today’s rain.

There it is,

the waxing moon

the same moon

that beckoned June,

the same moon

that has borne witness to it all.

And, then I feel their presence

a circle of women stand around me

my sisters, my ancestors

wise women from millenniums gone by

lit up by the moon

I see the lines on their faces

I can feel their stories

their pain

their hardship

yet, arm in arm, they stand

in forgiveness

in gratitude

in love.

Relentless

Steadfast

Committed

Devoted

these warriors assure me

“we are here, our work continues on”