I Come From a Long Line of Women

To Sylvia: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come” Proverbs 31:25

I come from a

long

line

of

strong

 women

Muscled arms

Sinews of steel

From hard days

in the field

Backbones of iron

Sure-footed

On the hard-packed

Soil of racism and defeat

 Stout of heart

Full of courage

Not easily broken

By life or putting to the ground

Children or husbands

Wise beyond years

Practiced in the art

Of intercession

Moaning

Groans

Only the Spirit 

Could understand

I come from a
Long line of such

Women

The same fields

 In the cool of

The evening

Became

A temple of praise

And love

 I come from a long

Line of

Strong women

Who reach

Beyond their

Own pain

To pull future

Generations

From the depths

Of the abyss