Girl on a Bike

Haunting, gaunt,

daunting,

thin face of want,

pale crescent,

peering in the doorway of our small Hall,

despairing paring of strange

wayfaring light.

She ate from potluck offerings, ate more,

asking to spend the night

alone on the cold floor.

We took her home and offered caring,

respite (hospital, hospice) hospitality.

She showered, washed her clothes,

ate and slept; and

after a day declined to stay,

ready to travel,

rolling away,

brave, grave,

into thin air, nowhere,

silent, self-containing, grim,

threading the moonlit rim

of highway gravel,

paining, waning, straining, dim,

to unravel on an eternal wheel,

veering, on a windy journey,

winding, pining, yearning:

courage and pride,

fever, burning,

eaten away inside,

disappearing,

sliver, to sever

into dark

forever.

______________________

O waning love,

o sliver in the dark,

so soon to crumble

into empty pain,

learn from the moon

the secret of rebirth.

Learn hope from Her,

eclipsed, now full again!

_______________________________

O Crescent Mother in the Dark

You rock the old moon in Your arms.

You hold the dying light in peace.

You rock the turn that sparks the new.

You cradle kindling light reborn.

O Womb of Light!  O Loom of Hope!

Teach me the secret of rebirth.

Teach me to die and live again

Your nascent arms enfolding me!

  © Tamara Rasmussen 2018