Tragedy and trouble struck one day,

The earthquake wiped my whole village away.

As I stand amidst the dust and rubble

I saw a friend who told me she is afraid of being pregnant.. afraid of the pain all that will bring up for her and yet doesnt want the medication to hold the pain at bay... It made me think of thiis poem I wrote after my daughter was born.  There are so many things I fear and fear tries to hold me back.  But I also remember a quote from the Starhawk book, The Fifth Sacred Thing, "Where there is fear, there is power."  That was my experience too... So this is for you, friend...

[Where?

There, when the helpless fear

claws icily at your heart]

There, when ignorance and intolerance

turn stone faced to your pain.

There, in your small daughter's wisdom

and your son's gentle smil

There, in the faces of friends

your unbidden tears, warmth of a hug

There, in the love you give

and receive

There, in the small voice whispering

you must, you can, go on

There, in the delicate veins of a leaf

moon bright in the cloud edged darkness

There, in words