In the Footsteps of the Matrilineal

In the footsteps of the matrilineal,
the rough tongues, the strong backbones,
the endurance, the thwarted dreams,
the holding on
the letting go

the eventual lifting up
out of sorrow,
the bursting open into joy

In the footsteps of strong women,
I have made my way

forged a new path
built on dreams

made a place
where I can stay.

for The Sunday Muse, a mother's day-ish kind of poem