The Old Woman and the Barefoot Maiden

It started like this.

My sisters, Della and Taina, and myself

write articles for the quarterly 

Finnish-American newspaper

New World Finn

Usually we take turns writing an article 

but for the Autumn 2011 issue

we focussed on the seasons

and how they manifest

in the boreal forests of Thunder Bay

we wrote round and round

where one sister would write a paragraph or so

then pass it on to the next sister

who would integrate the last sentence 

into the beginning of her writing

and who would then pass it on 

to the next sister

who would integrate the last sentence ......

so it kept going round and round

until we got this ...

Round and round the seasons go like a circular dance that never changes.   

Spring follows Winter follows Autumn follows Summer follows Spring follows …

Repeatedly, the seasons dance this sequence of movements.       

Taking her cue from the spiral dance, 
Crow crafts a cyclical pattern to build her nest,

weaving roots, flower stems, dandelions, feathers, moss--

even strips of plastic from discarded grocery bags.

Round and round, layer upon layer she weaves 
until the nest forms a perfect circle with no beginning or end.

Along the north shore, since we were young girls,

we sisters have looked forward to the choreography of seasons, 
to each season’s rhythmic beauty.

The change in seasons is one reason we love living by the boreal forest, 
and when away from home, are compelled to return again and again.

The seasons repeat in our lives in a never-ending story.

To Be Continued ...

The Old Woman and the Barefoot Maiden

will be excerpted

in following blog posts

Please drop by.