Ancestors

A presence of barely noticeable strands
Holding me in place

When the storm rages
When the nights grow too dark
When grief claws at my soul
When pain tears me apart

Their presence a beacon of light
Finally I walk the double-helix
Into the darkest shadowed past
Into the garden of blood and bone

Not all who have passed
Were diamonds who shone
And I have faced these scars
Down in the darkness alone

I am of your blood and you are in my bones
And I won’t carry your night into the known

Like a swaying lantern growing large
Is ancestral guidance in the dark

Roots

A digital collage made with vintage papers overlaid with vintage flower drawings. The tones are all yellow and earthy. Writing says: we are woven into stories, stories are woven into us. Which story are you going to chose?

As I said we are all woven into stories
Stories are woven around us
—through us
We are made of stories
GAGATATACATATGGCTAGCAAAGGAGAAGAAC…
It’s easier to say: ‘Once upon a time.’
Than read out loud encoded double helix stories
Of who we are and where we came from
A roadmap to the past

To the ones who brought pain
Your are of my blood
I am of your blood
I carry your story
But I live my own
I am not responsible for your decisions
I am responsible for mine
I won’t carry your guilt, shame and anger
I carry my own light

To the ones who loved unconditionally
Your blood sings in my veins
I stand in your strength
Your light amplifies mine
I carry your compassion
Your magic is my wonder
I feel your love still
Your joy carries me through rough seas
Even though I never knew you
You are part of me
I am part of you