A Woman  

A woman holds herself upright
Pelvic trunk to thighbone branches
Ritual center bowed out
With breath in
Bowed out with breath in
Bowed out

You bow to my navel
Your lips on its lower lip
And there you stay

Trust you to know its beauty
Even when I am doubled in two with cramps
How blood links us together
How your mother bled before you
Bled after you
Bled for you
Linking mother and son

Now I bleed
You bow in respect
I sigh in relief
A woman holds herself upright

© 2006 Delvina Greig