With up turned face, arms lifted straight out from her sides, palms up, a half smile on her full lips, and her eyes tightly closed. Ozeahlaa began to chant. Asking the mighty trees for their help. To show her how to shed her many sorrows as they shed their many colored leaves. To somehow let go of her pain and anguish, to just let them all fall away and drop at her feet, as did the disguarded leaves of the mighty towering Oak.
Ozeahlaa knew, being of the Earth people that she could not allow her spirit to give up, to stop! No matter how unbearable the pain became. For, to stop ... is to die! Motion is necessary for Earth people to remain alive. Just as the body needs food, water and air. The survival of ones spirit depends on the ability to move .... or move on.
Yes, Ozeahlaa loss had been extremely great. Her grief cold, dark and empty. Empty as the bottom of a freshly dug well.
The full moon, now high in the night sky. The stars twinkling like the wide trusting eyes of a newborn.
She feverestly threw herself into prayer and loud musical chanting. Ozeahlaa slowly began the dance of the Dead and Dying. Cleansing both her mind and body. She swayed, her body moving to the rhythm of the night shadows. Minutes turned to hours, and hours into days. Determined she repeated her ritual over and over and over. Until she was completely comsumed by sheer exhastion
She fell to the ground like a tree lizard. Plop! Her nude body glowing in the pitch dark. Shimmering with the perspiration of guilt. Her poor heart beating wildly, like the wings of a butterfly caught in your hands. She rolled onto her back, sucking in. Both of her lungs filled quick with the cool night air.
Ozeahlaa had turned loose of her mourning heart. Her soul at last at peace. Vigorously she rubbed the soft brown dirt on her body with both hands. Earnestly she thanks her Mother Earth for saving her from being swallowed by the ever circling shadows of grief.
BJ
Written for Abby .... The spirit of Light dances in your eyes.
