As She Died, That Grandfather's

KALLIOPE, A JOURNAL OF WOMEN'S LITERATURE & ART

As She Died, That Grandfather's
by Susan Hazen-Hammond

grandmother said, Give my summer
half to the winter people
and my winter half
to the summer people.

Give my skin to the bear clan
my eyes to the crow clan
my legs to the solstice runner
my heart to the sun.

May Spider Woman use these hands.
Let the hills take my songs
and the earth navel claim my thighs.
May no child die for me.

On the fourth day,
let the rains begin,
so that I may flow back
to the sacred lake.

May the wind not whirl.
May the dust not blow.
Let mine be the voice
that whispers in the night,

"Have courage, my child,
child of my child, child
of my child's child's child.
Be as woman. Be as man."

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