and if
By Becca Lavin
and if nothing more
she would feel some connection
to whatever myth she could conjure
in the moment
somehow she would gather strength
weathered, worn and beautiful
like autumns’ leaves
to her basket-bosom
she would pluck comfort
like fresh petals
drooping with dew
heavy with hope
all that done
she would pull reason from the roots
of her own rich soil
flush with stories turned over
on humane ‘herstory’
her story
divine yet, not defining
she would worship trees
and unknown entities
on her own terms
she would craft her own ‘religion’
carry on long conversations
with apparitions of her own design
she would align with the stars
in ‘her’ universe
when things got worse
she would listen intent
to the unspoken words
she would have to practice, she knew
every chance she got
she would have to walk
with her own gods
sleep with her own monsters
wrapped in some ill-starred
truth
as we all do
if it worked out
she may hear distant voices
soothing
she may sense a gentle kindness
gliding through her
guiding her through this
illustrious maze
if perfected
she could become exceptional-
ly crazed
all the rest of her days
as if nothing more
could matter or worry or hurt
or behave badly, or covet
or kill, or starve or torture or
or care less
and if nothing more
none of the above
and if nothing more
only love
Becca Lavin is a woman of a certain age (78) who turned to the written WORD in order to give her a voice she could listen to when, especially 'back in the days’, others may not have been able to. A voice she could question and opine in the boldest, yet, most vulnerable of ways. Life saver, this. Now that she has wrestled her way forward and relaxed into a time of life when she should have most, if not all, her questions answered she has taken up the visual arts and thanks (?) to the crazy world of humans has more questions, such as WhatTF?! and WhenTF shall this too pass?
Retired from a 20 year massage therapy practice, in 2020 she decided to try painting at her granddaughter’s requests. Becca lives in Redmond, WA.
At a time when the “war against women” has intensified. Becca’s poem delivers a powerful message of hope and strength. Read an article by the National Partnership for Women and Families, founded in 1971, whose mission is “to improve the lives of women and families by achieving equality and equity for all women.” The title is 35 Ways the Trump Administration Has Already Harmed Women and Families.