Contralto for Diana

 

CONTRALTO

For Diana

The owl looks down into the clearing where

My great grandmother lived

Where her cabin in the forest is now broken old bones

And the earth eats the crumbling remains

 

The old lady planted the clearing with mints

So verdant, and with lavender vivid

When Her sight faded like the setting sun, so the tones

Of the Scents were her warning refrains

 

Now the owl guards the forest

And she keeps the old lady’s heart alive

In her song

She is the protector of this ocean of plants

With her contralto calling alive

Alive

We are alive

To those who can hear and understand

 

When I brought the old lady a basket of food

She would always call my name

As my shoes crushed the cradles of mint on the path

And the lavender scent rose just the same

 

And she told the same story over and over

Of the owl so protected and safe

And the forest that houses her babies, ancestors,

and lovers, and it was her place.

 

Now the owl guards the forest

And she keeps the old lady’s heart alive

In her song

She is the protector of this ocean of plants

With her contralto calling alive

Alive

We are alive

To those who can hear and understand

 

When the old lady died there was quiet for a day

As the forest creatures mourned

But her testament of love for the forest arose

And in lavenders and mints was adorned

 

Today in this clearing this huge watching owl

Has greeted my scent with her song

Her pure contralto echoes forever in the forest

Enfolding the treasures to where they belong

 

Now the owl guards the forest

And she keeps my heart alive

In her song

She is the protector of this great treasure

With her pure contralto calling

Old lady

Young lady

Old man

Young man

To those who can hear and understand