[for Gretchen]
The forest vibrated with summer.
It had taken Moon Pearl days
to reach this place;
the foot of the Grand Father Tree,
wise and mighty.
She climbed to a lower branch
and slept 'til dark,
when the glow beyond the mountains
foretold her Mother's coming.
Her Hunting Spirit alive,
Moon Pearl slipped to the forest floor,
swift and silent.
She reached the lake at Moonrise,
her Mother's bright smile
shimmering on its waters.
Moon Pearl disrobed,
and gazed upon her reflection.
How long since she was here like this?
She had been a little girl,
scared and wounded,
her small, slim body,
pale and featureless
under her Mother's Light.
But how the world had turned.
She saw her bosom
was full and beautiful.
Her hips, smooth and round.
The ancient Symbols of her Ancestor's
inked into her fair
and luminescent skin.
She was a Woman.
And Strong.
She bathed herself,
washing off the cares
of her journey.
When she emerged from the lake
the warm summer breeze
gently caressed her.
She brushed out her hair,
and bound it in a horsetail
at the top of her skull.
She put on a pair of moccasins,
their leather, fine and un-used.
She anointed her body
with plum blossom oil,
the Sacred Fragrance of Kuan Yin,
her Mother's Name in The East.
She adorned herself
with silver jewelry,
a few simple pieces
crafted by her own hand.
Now, she was ready.
She raised up her arms
and prayed for her Mother's Blessing.
Then she returned to the Great tree,
and began her climb.
Hour after hour
she ascended,
steadily,
noiselessly,
clambering up his huge trunk
as if she had been born to this.
When her Mother was straight overhead
Moon Pearl reached his crown.
Her limbs ached and burned.
She was sheened with sweat,
causing her body to glow like her namesake.
But she was exhilarated.
At her feet lay the Great Forest,
dark and still.
In the distance
the deep black of the mountains
was etched against
the bright black of the sky,
its vault covered with stars,
sharp and sparkling.
Between the mountains
was a glistening line of silver.
This was the Ocean,
her Mother's Light
dappling its surface.
Moon Pearl lived there now,
made her home on the edge
of her Mother's vast Womb.
And this reminded her
of why she was here.
Moon pearl pressed her cheek
against the rough bark.
She whispered her questions softly,
and waited.
After an infinite moment,
with slow and measured words,
he began to tell her
where she could find
the rest of who she was.
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