"Skywoman buried her beloved daughter in the earth.
Her final gifts, our most revered plants, grew from her body.
The strawberry arose from her heart...
The first to bear fruit"

From Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Acceptance is knowing 
There is only one person
in the world for me
A very particular one
Unfortunately
Would not choose me.

To my 21 year old
Real estate agent
Who said 'get out'
I forgive

To my 56 year old
Teacher of teens
Who said 'think of the kids'
I forgive 

To my 65 year old
Neighbour and friend 
Who said 'so what?'
I forgive 

To my 52 year old
Love of my heart
Who said 'call a helpline'
I forgive

To my 75 year old
Source of my life
Who said 'shut up'
I forgive

To grow the wisdom 
Of all your years
Combined
For I give
How not to live
To my children
As a gift

With the years
Of our elders
I have cared for
In the thousands
With tuned ears
Wiped tears
I have armour
For the battle

Gifts of wisdom
Planted into
Ears of listeners 
Guard against 
Careless whispers

A drop of kindness
Gives more life than a whole dam
Well meaning advice

Gazing out your window 
To where canvas of stars
Meets the horizon 
Lured into your web
Of dreams and fairytales
I awake, frozen in time
Left in my own cave
Nothing but dreamscapes
To claim for my own
As if shutters were closed
On the biting frost
When all it was 
Our waking dawn

One can afford
Another human
On this earth
Is to hear
Someone 
In grief
To listen
To speak
To love
To be present
A gift

Just holding
All the hurting 
Parts of myself
With no choice
But to let go

Smile
Write 
Sigh
Dream
Flight
Cry
Say goodbye
Like you do

A knitted jumper
Woven from ends
Made in two months
Unravelled by weekend 

Got a cloud sleeping on my tongue

Kiss the violets as they’re waking up

Tori Amos