I just had a really fun visit with my sis from Minnesota. I got to thinking about us and our special relationship and about shawls and how I have shared a sister shawl with her for a few decades now. I thought about the Native American shawls, the Spirit Cloth, the Buddhist Kessa, the Jewish Talith, the Family Healing Cloth, the Mantra Prayer Shawl and on and on and it's like we have shared a sisterhood shawl forever. I picture the different types of shawls sisters can share depending on their relationship with one another. Some relationships are of course started in birth families and then some later in life with the women we refer to as being like a "sister". Here's my attempt at expressing some feelings about this in a poem.
Some shawls are light and lacy
some keep the sun out
and keep the dark in
Some share a gardening shawl
with string bean fringe
lettuce frills
radish baubles
Some share church shawls
no farting, snorting, belching
be your nasty comfortable self cloth
but piety trim
finger interlocking prayer
smokey incense
Rite Aid perfume mingled
with Chanel
religious yawn
quiet linens
choir fibers that transcend
and transport us to
church ceilings
angelic vapors, holy silks
Some share mourning shawls
hiding in the damp
folds of the heart
whispering sips of light
brushing by shadows
tucked in, ironed in place
for awhile
Some share silly shawls
My shawl is prettier than yours
Mine cost more
The design was inspired
Yes, well mine was
delivered from Lilith
Oh, sister, don't cry
Your shawl is prettier than mine
but mine smells better..
Sometimes sisters throw off
their shawls at the ocean
exposing their darling
baggy selves
little wispy chinny chin chins
fluttering about in the wind
tousled hair exposing roots
splashing in ocean verse
Sometimes shawls get torn
the fabric wears away
and nothing is left
but to bless the
memory and let it go
Sometimes shawls become wounded
wet spots from tears
stained spots from remorse
soft spots from forgiveness
thin spots from pulling, tugging
Thank you shawl sister
for the quilt of love colors
for the design
for the patches, the changes
the shape, the size
for it is huge
it covers our worlds
and all those in it.....
2010 Rozanna Landavazo
You have captured it. Your poetry REALLY inspires me. Gosh, I may need to take a poetry class. This is just beautiful. You are Good.
ReplyDeleteAh Rachelle, try reading all kinds of poetry and when you feel inspired by something, give it a wing. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I feel I've worn many of these shawls? I like the added introduction and the illustrations.
ReplyDeleteYou know, Rosanna, I have read poetry, but I'm amazed at Your work. You have a natural talent. I hope you keep posting. I'm loving it.
ReplyDeleteShawls is an elegant description of relationships and how they change....being a sister, this is like a gift. I like the movement in this poem, it is beautiful.
ReplyDelete