The sea is not always blue where the strong women live

Battle and birth

The sea is not always blue where the strong women live

Sometimes red blood

Battle and birth

Entwined in ceremony

All emptied out

Sometimes black

Ours/theirs

Chest heavy hurts

Grow veins

To new organs

Kitchen Wisdom

Sometimes purple

Kitchen wisdom

Hope nurtured

Sinuous emergence

Roots to possibilities

“strength” is a multi-faceted gem

Of tears

Of giving up

Of bone deep tired

Of grandmothers, mothers and aunties

Of care

Of renewal

Of struggle

Of surviving one more night

Sinking deep into being enough.

--Nanabjorn (Preparing 2022)