Snow, Night, Death and Breath
by Cassie Premo Steele
Like snow outside
the house, where, inside,
there sits a woman, alone,
watching the still freeze
of the season that ushers in
her widowhood.
Like night that comes
to a child, who sleeps, finally,
in the arms of an aunt, who wonders
how she will raise this daughter
of her sister, when her own
grief is so great.
Like death, welcomed
by a grandmother, who,
no longer able to speak,
still calls her family to her side,
and holds the hand of each one,
and blinks goodbye.
Like the breath of a mother
that stops, when, after her toddler drops
from a great height, and pauses,
then gets up, looks over, smiles,
and begins to climb up again
just as high.
Like snow, night, death, and breath,
comes the fall, the slow release
of blood from a woman, who
lets go each month, prepares
for what enters next:
thaw, dawn, birth, another breath.
--from Moon Days, edited by Cassie Premo Steele
by Cassie Premo Steele
Like snow outside
the house, where, inside,
there sits a woman, alone,
watching the still freeze
of the season that ushers in
her widowhood.
Like night that comes
to a child, who sleeps, finally,
in the arms of an aunt, who wonders
how she will raise this daughter
of her sister, when her own
grief is so great.
Like death, welcomed
by a grandmother, who,
no longer able to speak,
still calls her family to her side,
and holds the hand of each one,
and blinks goodbye.
Like the breath of a mother
that stops, when, after her toddler drops
from a great height, and pauses,
then gets up, looks over, smiles,
and begins to climb up again
just as high.
Like snow, night, death, and breath,
comes the fall, the slow release
of blood from a woman, who
lets go each month, prepares
for what enters next:
thaw, dawn, birth, another breath.
--from Moon Days, edited by Cassie Premo Steele
"Sixteen earnest stories (plus additional poetry and prayers) by mostly new authors delve into a topic that is seldom open for discussion. Although much of this collection boldly examines the negative aspects of menstruation (shame, cramps, messes, silence and fear), the editor has included many positive perspectives as well, illuminating menstruation's life-affirming, procreative and spiritual potentials....Overall this book might be helpful to parents of teenage daughters who welcome a feminist and affirmative celebration of menstruation."
-from Publisher's Weekly