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Basket Weaver

Crossing the mossy earth,
a woman sings an ancient song.
She loads on her back willow reeds,
gathered close to the river’s edge.

By the light of a fire
she begins to weave,
under the drying grass moon.
She weaves in her songs,
memories, dreams,
to the sound of drumbeats
that fade into the night.

Cool winds remind her
of snow that will come
and when the warm sun
will melt it into streams.
Then the rivers will fill
before the moon
of budding trees.

Memories take her
to roots that go deep
as dancing shadows
circle and spin.
She sees in the shadows
her mother’s kind eyes,
a grandmother’s smile.

The pliant willow
begins to take form,
as skilled fingers weave
far into the night.
She carries within her
a secret joy
as she weaves a fine cradle,
to shelter new life.

Doris Bezio is an artist/poet from DePere. She is frequently featured in the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar, as well as other publications including Your Daily Poem, Verse and Vision, and Inspired Times. She is compiling her poetry into a book, which will be out before the year’s end.