Sees the Ravens

[Bianca Alabaster]

She was born
during the time
of freezing
when the Lakota people
were prepared for
a hard winter.

Her grandmother
had used the old stone
to grind the grain
to make flat bread.

When her mother
bore the baby girl
her sister opened
the tipi flap
to let in light
they saw the ravens
near the stone
eating the grain.

Her mother named
her “Sees the Ravens”
her cry was loud
and pierced the air
the ravens looked up
from their scratching.

She was the delight
of her people
and gifted.
Her smile was like
the sun
and she loved
everyone
even the old
and bitter ones.

The ravens
knew her heart beat
from the start,
she knew their
crooning and
warning ways
that helped her people.

She had a special way
with other animals too
and became a powerful
mystic and Raven Dancer.

To her - she was just
a happy girl who
loved to dance
with the ravens,
amused by their
funny walk
- neck bob
always laughing
in love with their
blue-black feathers
and wisdom eyes.

©12/31/09