Coming Of Age, The Rite

a tender voice recites, muse’s lyrics flow non-believers have poisoned Earth Mother's waterways She unleashes winds blown hotter and dryer perennial white blossoms swoon midst zephyrs dangle from sterling chaste trees twisted maple bark echo braids sacred hair unscathed gold filters branches thousand-year rooted Algonquin memories elders and granddaughters amble amongst crackling twigs streams pristine align to augur a promising path within a bison pelt tepee awaits the knowledge keepers embrace fire and smoke dense and opaque evoking a bittersweet melancholy broadleaves tremble breathe and sway hymn chants of traditional wisdom expel severed is the braid as is the child from the woman her nascent efflorescence transition is significant as we are wedded and bound to nature’s perennial sentient let the path before us grow wider and brighter for future generations