In the shallows of a northern lake
a woman stands with drum in hand,
feeding her wounded spirit with song.
She beats to rhythms of drum
singing strength back into her bones
spreading seeds of courage
across the marsh
and up the hills of rolling folds.
Her voice soars into the wind
down through the valley below
it glides by the willows
and sweeps the grass in dance.
Drum in hand
she stands beside her grandmothers
and begins to heal with song
fading tomorrows fears.

care for a reading
published inĀ Martin Lake Anthology 2016