sleeping by the river

I lay down in the wide bed, close to the river,
the thunderous Rocky Broad under Hickory Nut Falls.
All night she roared in her white water by my open window.
I fell and fell, a river too.
My legs fell open and curved ‘round, pulling in, pulling in.
I relaxed, and welcomed in the world.
I was a swirling eddy, a whirlpool, as each muscle fell deeper,
each cell called “yes!I trust you! I trust the world!”
Spinners from the far ethers came to me, woman, whole.
As each cell gave way, more came, and I loved them all,
the power everywhere,the pull of my legs into me,
holding, blessing all.

Annelinde Metzner

 

grandmother mountain

I’m close enough now to see you are plainly an old woman,there for the world,laid back to bask in this golden and fragrant sun,late spring.You have a breast! With a nipple!Who could call you “Grandpa”?Mists of early morning have just burned awayto yellow proud June sun.And how is it here?Time so long and wide, there is no time any more.Funny how people say, “There is no time!”There isn’t!Valueless to say “Thursday” or “1994”here at dear Grandmother’s side,with her thousand children,the laughing crows like silly boys,the patient clover, purple and green by my bare toes,this boundless strengththat you allow to all of us,all our relations.(Note: the proper name of this unique ecosystem in North Carolina is “Grandfather Mountain”.)

Annelinde Metzner