My Muse

She moves with me like the swirling

Edges of the tide licking my ankle bones,

stimulating my creative chi

She loves with me like the pulsing churn of ocean

waves upswelling my heart’s compassion,

expanding my circles of concern

She hopes with me like the off shore breezes

casting my prayers out to sea,

surfing the spiral of time

She knows with me like the footprints left by my

future Self to follow one step,

one breath at time,

grounding me to be here now

SHE muses me like the salty drop on my tongue

becoming an ocean in my throat of

prayerful voice,

pouring my words into the vessel of poetry

Thank you baby Julia, tiny being who never spoke

Now my muse,

love mama

Baby Julia, my daughter, my ancestor, my muse August 8th-28th, 2002