Shadow Dance Poem by Mari Martin

My feet were still
waiting to hear the music
that did not come.
My ears heard only silence
and in that silence I stood
without seeing.

Then the skies began to cry
the tears inside of me
began falling
to Mother Earth.
I touched them
and they became a bird
that took flight to the skies.
When my eyes followed him
he flew high into the grayness.
I sighed.

When I looked again
the sky was being painted
with colors my eyes could see.
The bird began to sing
and my feet began to dance.
There did I stand
dancing to his songs
and watching the shadows move
and dance
with the brightness of the colors
that his spirit painted for me
guided by Creators hand.

I closed my eyes to listen
to the songs that filled my heart
and when my eyes opened
the bird became you
standing with me
under the painted sky
your tears my tears
and our feet were
dancing with the shadows.
-****-


The Elders of our People teach us
those things in life that they have learned.
They give us their wisdom as a gift and a guidance.
Whether Elder or Child, our life is filled with lessons
One of those lessons in life is to dance with our shadows,
those fears that keep our feet still, the hurt, anger, or sorrow of our past.
They are part of who we are today.
Let them be a part of who we are, not control who we are.

When we are able to dance with our shadows
we are able to unbind them from our spirit,
to see them with a clear heart.