Old Mother

Old Mother

Old Mother, how much it is that you've seen in your time,

But now you are one with the earth, and one with the sky.

The wrinkles that crossed lines on your face and your hands,

Old Mother, now are the canyons that crack across lands.

Your mouth that spoke such wise and wonderful words,

Is now the mouth of every beast and the beaks of all the birds.

Your hair that would wave in the softest of breeze,

Now moves with the clouds and rustles the leaves.

Your eyes that have watched so many passing years,

Are the knots in the trees, drops of dew are your tears.

You live on in the wind, you live on in the dust,

Old Mother, you're the dawn and you are the dusk.

You're the trees and the wind, and the sun and the rain,

Old Mother, you're the moon, the night and the day.

You're the sand and the shells, the ice and the rocks,

You're the dog in the chase and also the fox.

Old Mother, your sands have flowed steadily through our time,

Even now they're scattered wide, you'll live on in our minds.

By J. Barrett