Back permanently bent from years at task,
large calloused hands firm to grasp,
gently assess tendrils amongst the greens.
Red kerchief upon her head, basket nearby
knapsack slung on hunched shoulders
eyes to ground, the healer gathers.
Moon watcher, earth cycles familiar
as her own once were. Old woman
wise in the land, one of generations.
Young girl, the next, hovers quietly
beside rivers, through brambles,
seeks to learn mountain’s gifts.
Veined hands reach, crack dogwood bark
fingers roll to crumble butterfly weed.
Touch, not eye, decides to take or not.
Blue cohash, huckleberry, lady slippers.
Sun fades. Moccasin flower roots,
tomorrow’s liquid for aching throat.
She walks the mountainside pharmacopeia
long Joe-pye-weed from the shores,
reishi mushrooms tucked below trees.
Purple fox glove for Pauni’s heart,
bee balm and peppermint leaves,
hawthorne twigs for ceremonial wreaths.
Harvest complete, they slowly return,
woman healer and one to be.
Stars orbit, complete the cycle
whilst moon waxes and wanes.
Late for Tuesday Poetics when guest prompter Lynn asked us to write something related to mountains; so posting now at dVerse Open Links Night. Photo Credit: Michael and Christa Richert.
lillian the home poet 
What a delightful gift in that basket – flowers, roots, twigs & leaves ~ The young girl is wise to seek to learn the mountain’s gifts ~
Lillian, you can link up this poem when OLN night opens at 3pm EST today ~ This is a gem to read ~
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So glad you like it! Will link in at 3 today!
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Oh! This is absolutely beautiful… love the images here 😀
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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So very glad you enjoyed, Sanaa. Happy Thursday!
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What a beautiful picture of the older generation passing knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation. Peace, Linda
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Thank you, Linda. Smiling I am.
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Oh how I like this! many years ago, in my “yute”, I lived in the high mountains of NC and for a year, was apprenticed to a Cherokee healer – this so reminds me of her and the time spent and lessons learned. And welcome back… 🙂
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Oh that must have been a wonderful experience! Glad to be back 😊
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It was….three years out of university and needing peace….
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Passing the idea of woman healer from one generation to another….love the thought of that. Well expressed in your poem.
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Thank you, Mary!
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A lovely poem, and a tribute to women, too.
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Exactly! Interesting that in ancient times women were the healers. Glad you liked it.
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We need to teach the next generations about the mountain gifts. Women were great healers through the ages as they had knowledge of herbs and plants. Delightful read.
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Yes — it’s a fascinating read to do the research and learn about the gifts these women held in commune with nature. There is a movement now, back to nature’s healing ways. When we lived in the country eons ago, I loved to hang drying lavender and bittersweet in our kitchen. Glad you liked this one.
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Lovely descriptive words but too many beans in the soup.
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ah….cut down on the inclusion of the flowers and weeds? I wondered about that. That’s what’s nice about a quadrille prompt — it limits the poem to 44 words. I must admit, I so enjoyed doing the research for this one that I had a hard time limiting the number of flowers, branches etc. Glad you liked the description.
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learning is life specially when the teachers are nature and the wise…
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So very well said! 🙂
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Earthy and mystical – and so fresh!
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Thank you! 🙂 Happy I am that you enjoyed.
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A beautiful poem for this Spring morning. Thank you.
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ah….on to my second cup and reading your reply here! Have a wonderful day!
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poetry this is, Lillian
in its purest form
am:)
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I love your portrayal of the old, young and the new. Beautifully described and contrasted.
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Thank you for your very kind words 🙂
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Love all those plants!
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So glad you enjoyed!
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Approaching the Full
moon now of Friday
this week.. 3 weeks
now from this
prompt here..
Magic iS iN
the liGht oF
Moon Child BriGht
years go by.. centuries
eons and Aeons sAMe
noW continues whOle
in moon
day
break liGht
and TrUth of
course.
wRite oN
Course..:)
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Moon Child Bright 🙂
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