"Ceremony" by John C. Mannone

Ceremony

John C. Mannone

"Eagle" Watercolor on Paper
By J. Artemus Gordon

I look down from the wings of a great eagle,

a Muscogee song sifting through my feathers,

the wind singing prayers to my body below.

I sing to myself because I am a prayer even

after my spirit has gone—my body will stay

for a while for the ceremony we all need,

even as I was born, my mother washed me

with a flood of her love. Sponging her heart

into mine, I listened for her pulse as I drank in

her tenderness as soft as the whisper of milk.

Today, I am washed again with my memories

of her and of my children’s—drenched in stars.

Poet’s Notes: I was inspired to compose this poem after my attending a reading by Joy Harjo of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/joy-harjo. In recent years, I have been interested in the infusion of Indian culture, legend, and history into some of my poetry. 

Editor's Note:  See related works published in Songs of Eretz for the Ojibwe and Nez Perce Indian cultures:

“Dreamcatchers” (Tupelo Press 30/30 Project), a Songs of Eretz Poetry Award Contest finalist (from a time before John was a Frequent Contributor) http://www.songsoferetz.com/p/draft-e-zine_31.html, and

“A Voice of Waters” http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2016/08/poem-of-day-voice-of-waters-by-john-c.html.