‘For Kate at Forty’ is a poem celebrating forty years of beautiful life and illustrated by Julie Klee.
by accident.
And now, at this parted place,
this green opening in time,
my hair blows wild and free.
It trails behind me, ribbons of knowing
unveiling a new face that burns forward
searching, squatting, listening
listening deep to the fire flower
inside
A garden of molten memory pressing me on into this
Land I have not been.
I have learned to plant my good heart
in the words I choose to let loose from my lips
to spin beauty and truth
in words as they craft their magic weaving
of new tomorrows in hard rock places
Like water tapping on rock
for eons... shape shifting
moving mountains.
I have learned to sweep my house
with finesse and gentle strokes
Peaceful Death I called it once
to calm the edges of the inevitable
to make room for tomorrow.
I have learned to tend my child
that dancing princess of wild delight
preening, prancing, primping
pinks and purples twirling, swirling red
Wild dervish dancing
with delight.
I wait here leaning into the Not Yet
memory flowing on a hair’s breath
spreading out on angel’s wings
waiting to be born
Who am I now at this threshold forty?
I wait to know.
© Deborah Prokipchuk Ackley 2007
