Often the best of gifts is friendship. Today, I'm remembering with love, Mau Blossom (July 9, 1935 to December 25, 2007). I feel very blessed to have known her as both my friend and counselor, and what I learned through that continues to influence and support me. Here is a poem I wrote (18 Jan. 2008) for her memorial gathering not long after she showed us all how to die a good death. Her memorial notice began 'I will not live an unlived life'. She didn't.
Our elder Mau by Sulis
'I must tell you that mine
is not the conventional view',
said the woman who teased
rules apart like old wool
knitting a brighter jacket
from the multicolored yarn.
I miss her wise crone voice
on the phone, 'Hello dear,'
patiently listening to my
repeating detention lines
waiting for me to find my
own path through the woods.
She'd been everywhere,
galloped across her life
the wild woman I wanted
to be and she knew it
wasn't easy for anyone
to ride that wind alone.
Not afraid of dark or light,
for her, spoken words were
curtains drawn to reveal or
conceal the truth treasures
of hearts she intended to
make fearless as her own.
Seeing the fire in me had
gone out, she blew softly
on the dampened embers
but no flame rose though
all around me the forest
burned with hidden pain.
So she took me to the last
outpost, pointed the way
trusting that I would walk
those implausible tracks
armed with her teaching
that was silent and true.
Cougar mother she paced
the fine line of true courage
set up the wild drum beat
and kept faith to its rhythm
calling her kittens to play
across wide-ranging lands.
Midwife to life and death
she birthed her own spirit
with each new encounter
beating a trail to the last
glade where we gathered
around her in absolute awe.
The last sacrifice was hers
through strength and pain
and she fought for us all
to keep the fires burning
to keep the waters flowing
to keep love in our hearts.
I love you Mau, Sara
