Once We Were Witches

Painting by Kirsten DeBoer. Used with permission.

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​Once we were witches
We drew all things
Within the circle 
Because all things,
Including No things, are
Within the circle. 
We drew all into
The magical corridor
Between the heart and the
Belly. We allowed all and
No things to whisper
Their true names
In their many languages. 
All and no things told us
Stories in pictures,
That pierced
The veil of dreaming,
The dream of secrets,
Not secrets after all, but
Life hidden in plain and 
Perfect sight. 

Once we were witches
And told the stories
Given us in that magic
Corridor, between heart and belly,
To heal and soothe
All and no things which
Include beings, human and
Others. But our sight,
Made dim or blinded

By other stories,
Shouted by those who
Wanted the circle
Made smaller. Our sight
Went dark in their fires’
Dense, deadly smoke.
The voices choked, silenced,
and we, who once were

Witches came to believe the circle
Small, a place of precious few,
While outside, the many asked
For alms, believed the stories
Told between the eyes.

Still, all and no things,
Of which we are part,
Find their insistent way to
That place between heart
And belly. Whispering,
They remind us of what
We fear to see, lest the burning
Begin again. 

        - Rebecca del Rio

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