received October 8, 2002

In the black hours of this day's morning
You flew into the sky to begin your journey
As a young woman in the world
Leaving two grieving parents behind to face the dawning of the day
Still holding on to you with all their strength,
    hugging a space the shape of your dear body.
Heartlines trailing through the vast oceans of space, through the crack on the edge of time
Lost to sight, but firmly attached to a place deeper than sight

Last night I anointed your beautiful, confident young woman's forehead
With oil that you had chosen to symbolize the end of your initiation into the universe
For days I reviewed the catalog of necessary wisdom that a mother must impart
To keep her daughter safe and smart, happy and healthy through all life's joys and pains
I asked the ritual question: What is there that you feel you do not yet know
That I might be able to impart as one last gift of knowledge—
A seal to the years that we have embraced together with our bodies, hearts and souls
Set to mark you as blessed and inviolate—
    A woman
    to be sung & cherished,
    to listen to for her wisdom and clear-sightedness and compassion,
    to stir what is good and kind and fiercely loving and gentle in all who behold her
    to light in her a beacon for others to draw near for shelter and grow from your
        mutual nurturing
    to touch young and old with peace, comfort, healing and good humor

Your answer was a gift in return, sweet words telling me what you felt I'd given you,
    your final acknowledgement that the rite was well and truly done
Only thus was I able to let you go with love and the sense of completion of perhaps my
    Life's most important work
And with the certainty that I am also blessed to be part of the miracle of you
And will continue to be so for all of eternity

 
[ just another day here in eternity... why? what're you doin'? ]