goddess
(for my daughter)


standing
outside the shower
	full-length mirror
	(don't get caught between reflections)
i spied my own silhouette
	five days past the birth of my child
		dark-haired beauty
full of milk, lacking baby
not nearly the skinny stick i knew
and i recalled a visit
	cleveland art museum
	that long bad summer
statues
of the goddess Parvati
	she had this form:
		filled breasts
		unfilled belly
and i knew what they had seen
these people from long ago

and now my child nestles beside me
feeding
drinking her life from me
	strange watery stuff
her slate-colored eyes are closed
as we cuddle
here is the secret, little girl:
take this strength i can give you
	bold Diana
	wise Artemis
	Danu lady mother
	Kali who births and kills
	Ceridwen, Rhiannon, Brigid
	Corn Mother, Spiderwoman
	Lilith
	queen Parvati
drink them from me
drink them into you
be who you will

6/25/02