Judith Mountain Leaf Volborth

The Medicine Stone

Listen,

this woman
she burns sage and cedar,
braids bits of abalone shells
and sweetgrass into her hair
as she sings to the Moon
moss tongue soft.

Using the luminous strands

of spiders

she paints the language of clouds
onto ancient stone,

medicine for knowing spirits.

Spinning her songs softly,

visions pool at her feet,

beads of light gather on the water.

Fluids charms for her medicine bundle,
these boneseeds of imagination crystallize

Standing in Moon light

she recognizes her own solitary form,
spreads her fingers into a

four-point star

and dances the steps

of the Northern Lights.

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