Thursday, March 23, 2017

alaska, day 3&4 and part of 5

i got sick in 
Alaska
a good solid three days deep
into our trip. 
fever racked my body,
ice cold chills 
sending needles into
my tired achy bones. 
i could not regulate 
my body temperature
and my limbs and temples
howled in pain. 
and yet. 
even here, 
there were gifts to be found. 
there always is. 
jeanne prepared the bath, 
sprinkling it with rich cleansing 
fragrance of 
calming lavender 
and helpful healing 
eucyalptus. 
the girls, becoming nurses 
doting over me like 
hearty hens
tending and caring for me. 
they demanded my rest,
lindsey in her mother tone
in a way-
giving me much needed
permission 
to find room to heal
removing expectation off me-
we were in Alaska after all-
but my wise women tribe 
gently pushed me towards
bed, sleep, and rest. 
chelsea tucked me in
squeezing my leg in affection 
letting me know 
she was only a shout away,
her hands took time to 
rub my throbbing temples
erasing the knots in my back as well..
they filled me with 
rich mineral filled 
bone broth
letting me sit in the 
heat of vehicle 
while they ventured into the belly 
of a fishing ship. 
i missed out a little, 
but i really didn't feel 
too badly 
because one, 
they never made me feel like i did, 
and two, 
for all that i was 
cared for and treated
with such 
attentive tenderness,
the sickness came with gifts 
the service, 
a blessing undeserved. 
i want to continue to 
train my heart 
to always always find the 
gifts 
in 
everything.  

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