“Water Women” by Alla Bozarth
We do not want to rock the boat,
you say, mistaking our new poise
for something safe.
We smile secretly at each other,
sharing the reality that for some time
we have not been in the boat.
We jumped or were pushed
or fell, and some leaped overboard.
Our bodies form a freedom fleet,
our dolphin grace is power.
We learn and teach and as we go
each woman sings~ each woman’s hands
are water wings.
Some of us have become
mermaids or Amazon whales
and are swimming for our lives.
Some of us do not know how to swim.
We walk on water.
Womanpriest: A Personal Odyssey, Alla Renée Bozarth, revised edition 1988, distributed by Wisdom House; Water Women, Alla Renée Bozarth, audiocassette, Wisdom House 1990; Accidental Wisdom, Alla Renée Bozarth, iUniverse 2003 and This is My Body—Praying for Earth, Prayers from the Heart, iUniverse 2004. All rights reserved.
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Alla Bozarth Artist Statement:
Alla Renee Bozarth is a Russian, Celtic, Osage American poet, Episcopal priest, soul caregiver and writer who lives at the foot of Mt. Hood in Western Oregon and has published 20 prose and poetry books and 4 audio albums with 14 more large poetry collections, 7 small books and 2 CDs being prepared for publication. Alla has written award winning poetry for over 40 years, beginning with an Academny of American Poets Award in 1970. Her poems are widely used all over the world, often in collaboration with visual artists, singers, and dancers. See her website:interviewwithallareneebozarthaboutwritingandpoetry.com.
