(Painting by Annie Kiyonaga, May 2019)
the life of a woman
feet planted on the
earth
Mother Earth
head held high
touching the sky
energetic connection
to life giving
to
nurturing
to
holding safe
arms that support
hands that soothe
words tumbling out
that ease pain
body, mind and
heart
wanting to protect
from any suffering
any harm
the sword that can hide in
life’s folds
has not a chance against
a mother’s love
against
a woman’s strength
in times of war
the most profound of
human pathologies
women leave strollers and
baby carriages
standing sentinel at
the train station
a sweep of support
of love
awaiting those fleeing refugees
amongst them mothers
holding their young
steady and determined
knowing what needs to be done
to safeguard
to barricade their young
from the deep, deep sorrows
this human species
can propagate
and these gifts of strollers
of carriages
at the train station
a gift from one mother to another
awaits
through time
across time
the strength of woman
the brilliance of woman
the heart intelligence of woman
is seen again and again
demanding the vote
demanding equal rights
demanding that justice and compassion rule the day
fierce in courage
tender in the fragility of evanescent beauty
steeped in earth’s wisdom
the incomparable care, strength and power
that is woman
Annie Kiyonaga
March, 2022
Recently, a photo was taken of strollers and baby carriages placed by Polish mothers on a train platform in Poland in case mothers, caretakers, with children - amongst the arriving Ukrainian refugees - had need. It is an incredibly beautiful photo.