Awakening

We cast ourselves

sweating,

into furrows deep

to hide the pain.

Remembering,

rebuilding,

restoring,

recovering,

we dig deeply,

dirtying ourselves

until we are clean.

We cast off

the past

into piles of shit

assuring ourselves

as we do

that this is right.

And it is.

It is.

It is right.

We rise again,

active and alive.

We regain what was lost--

ourselves.

We rejoice

in the fruits

of our labor,

tending our garden,

well-weeded,

renewed,

and ready

for what lies ahead.

Judith DeChesere-Boyle (1992)