Does She Know Poem by Jenny Kalahar

Is she gone
does she know
are her shadows still connected
to her flowers as they grow

Are nasturtiums orange here
or are they yellow, are they dead
can we drink their milk like children
should we lace them on her head

Is she gone
does she know
if she's in heaven or on earth
will she take her shadow with her
or leave it for us to embrace

Are the willow leaves unwilling
to sway when she walks by
respecting that she has more grace
more devotion to the sky

Will the moon engorge and grow
into fullness if she wakes
at midnight should her dreaming path
bring her into consciousness again

Is she gone
does she know
has she left us
will she stay
will her shadow sit with us and guide us
mother creator, sister student, will she tell
other secrets she's not told us,
have we writ our poems well

Is she gone
does she know
has she left us
here behind
will she soar in loud procession
banging drums throughout the day
or will she bow to all her gardens' glories
and then sweetly slip away