Village Shakti by Verena Tay
Nov05

Village Shakti by Verena Tay

  “Village Shakti” by Verena Tay (for Kamini Ramachandran)   I, woman, dance for me! My spine snakes into talons,         your gaze pierced. My breast-hip curves to heart beats,         your rhythm smashed. My feet pound paths fresh,         your grasp spent. My smile bites Eve’s apple,...

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Isles of the Wise by Sharon Suzuki-Martinez
Nov05

Isles of the Wise by Sharon Suzuki-Martinez

  “Isles of the Wise” by Sharon Suzuki-Martinez   Led by women since time immemorial, the world’s last official matriarchal religion survives in the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa). My mother’s parents and all their parents were born on these islands. Mom never wanted to visit, and characteristically, would not explain why. This mystery always drew me to Okinawa. When I finally visited, my husband and I saw utaki or...

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Water Women by Alla Bozarth
Nov05

Water Women by Alla Bozarth

  “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...

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St. Lunatic by Gayle Bell
Nov05

St. Lunatic by Gayle Bell

  “St. Lunatic” by Gayle Bell   That’s what my kids call me able to try to fix the whole world in a single bleeding heart I bare it all baby an offered hat, clothes still with good wear a burger, coffee, a shoulder, an ear Ms. June has a smile like a brown berry sunshine a greeting like a country hug Mr. Willie can sing spirituals that would make a statue get happy Alabama tats on a shoulder A yes mam, Gods...

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Host by Roz Spafford
Nov05

Host by Roz Spafford

  “Host” by Roz Spafford   From The Gospel According to Mary Hungry for justice, he won’t eat, not one grape nor flake of fish. His flesh is grass, dry as a whisper. His wish: to divide his body like those fish. Gambling on scraps, returned in baskets, overflowing. He would be bread dry and flat broken for us. He would be memory. Behind him the demons hiss. Subsistence is what they give us: our sardines...

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