Emerging from the shadowy depths of my enclosure
my cage
wearing nothing but my skin
drifting into the thicket

feeling the cold white velvety blanket dissolving to moisture beneath my steps
I find a patch of earth
soft grasses green
soil black as pitch, rich in vital minerals

with one thrust of my foot
I sending it plunging deeply within
one following the other
stretching out my toes….hardening….reaching…digging…. growing
anchoring me
my legs and body stiffen

brown skin darkening, thickens, hardening
raising my head to smile at father sky above
arms outstretched, reaching out…..to embrace
connecting to earth and sky

I can move nothing, as the hardening change of my skin
moves up through my torso and limbs
feet and toes growing to roots, deep down in the earth
clutching the mother’s breast…clinging

arms and fingers to branches caressing father sky
breathing a breath I’ve never before breathed
no longer through my once movable mouth and nose
now solid, clothed in a new hardened skin

bark, solid, dark, and strong
my breath moves from within my core, and radiates up and out
haaaaaaaa
my arms swaying to the whistling wind blowing through my branches

as I sigh and moan, a tune of my own
of thanks and wonder

© January 10, 2010, L. Karriem