By, April Parchoma
Dec. 4, 2018 Version
she pulled the forest floor
and told me to eat
the very best medicine
of the very best leaves
her strength sweet as berries
her truth as unknown
stories gnawing at the roots
where the shadows had grown
all over the blood of a generous heart
now it was their turn
to tear her apart
a scarf tied to a tree,
tossed in the wind
a prayer and a hope
for the kind parts to win
cleansed by a lake, a walk and a swim
memories subdued
they went softly to dim
too gentle to leave
this life well and good
with that big love given
to run out o’ the woods
on a heart full of promise and
a head full of dreams
she couldn’t quite face
the world cruel and mean
those drunk hands caused all the fray
they wrapped around her neck
and told her to obey
believing she was strong enough
to live through the day,
she up and married to just run away
into the arms of Justice
on the wings of truth
she fought with the best
and lifted up the youth
calling to connect
source to the stream,
continuing to sew
the reap of their dreams
in the end
the absent hands appeared
again and again
mountains of sorrow
rushed toward the fear
her kindness endured
when confusion appeared
calling her to look
deep into the pain
she couldn’t, she wouldn’t,
go there again
the fuse is short,
a shield to her heart,
unfolding a path
outstretched in the dark
where the shadows fade
into the long night
to care for the medicines
in the moonlight
Original Version
March 2018
She pulled the forest floor
and told me to eat
The very best medicine
Of the very best leaves
Her strength sweet as berries
And her truth as unknown
The stories knawing at the roots
Where the shadows had grown
All over the blood of a generous heart
And now it was their turn
To tear her apart
A scarf tied to a tree,
Tossed in the wind
A prayer and a hope
for the kind parts to win
Cleansed by a lake, a walk and a swim
The memories subdued they went softly to dim
Too gentle to leave
this life well and good
With that big love given
To run out of the woods
With a heart full of promise and
A head full of dreams
She couldn’t quite face
The world cruel and mean
Those drunk hands caused all the fray
They wrapped around her neck
And told her to obey
Thinking she was strong enough
to live through the day
She up and married to just run away
Into the arms of Justice, and the wings of truth
She fought with the best
And lifted up the youth
Calling to connect
The source to the stream
Continuing the sew the reap
of their dreams
In the end
the Absent hands appeared…
Again, again and again…
Mountains of sorrow
Rushed toward the fear
They called her to look
Deep into the pain
She couldn’t, she wouldn’t, go there again
The fuse is short
A shield to her heart
Unfolding a path
Outstretched in the dark
Where the shadows fade
Into the long night
To care for the medicines
In the moonlight…